Random Musings #15: A home, away from home!
We were seeing off, or receiving, Gaja Uncle and Dolly Aunty at the Madras Meenambakkam airport. I was less than ten, I think. Now that I reflect on it, it was seeing off, and in the evening/night, as the other occasion that I recall was receiving them during the day. When the Toblerone blocks melted by the time we got home and so we had them as a dip with idlis! Oops, I digress.
The plane could be seen on the tarmac as it prepared for taxiing and take off. Through the glass pane of the viewing gallery and with the plane at a distance, I thought that I could still make out the profiles of people through the windows of the plane. From advertisements of the Maharaja hosting guests on Air India planes, I had a vision of resplendently attired stewardesses serving passengers with a big smile. My heart yearned for a plane journey — both for the experience of the journey and the destination. Images of ‘America’, where Uncle and Aunty were traveling to, were those that we saw in the Hollywood movies. I was always quite taken in by the opening scenes of movies shot in cities like New York from a helicopter hovering over skyscrapers, lit brightly at night. And also, by the neat and clean open spaces, broad roads, smartly outfitted people, speaking with difficult-to-catch accents, the oh-so-modern and futuristic cars, homes, buildings, lifts, carpets, furniture, appliances….
“My dream is to go the USA”, I would declare while Prakash, a first cousin, would say that his dream was to go to Japan. By that, we meant that we wished to move and live there.
As things worked out, I did move out of India to work and live, but it has been in the Middle East almost entirely, except for some two and a half years in Singapore, in-between. It’s been almost thirty years now, away from home — well over more than half my life.
Work and holiday travels have taken me to many countries including the USA and Japan but for a maximum of a couple of weeks or so each, at a stretch. Home has been the Middle East and Singapore. Two years in Bahrain to start with, three at Abu Dhabi, a year and a half in Dubai, six months in Sharjah, fourteen years in Dubai, two and half in Singapore and now back at Dubai for five and a half and counting (touch wood).
If I had a chance to go back and start life all over again, would I want to live somewhere else? The answer in my mind is a clear no. A clear, unambiguous and emphatic NO!
The two and a half years in Singapore were good and enjoyable. While small and densely populated — with people and cars-there were several wonderful aspects. Good professional networking, rain and abundant greenery, a mix of nationalities, fantastic food options, sports facilities and a great hub for work and holiday travel. After Dubai, if there is a second place that I would like to live in, it is Singapore.
Which brings me to life with the Middle East as home and, specifically, the UAE and Dubai.
The Middle East and Dubai get some bad press — definitely in earlier years and even now.
“Limited professional growth opportunities”, was a common refrain to the extent that anyone who moved here to work, including yours truly, would declare “I am here for two years and will move either back home or migrate to a ‘western’ country”. The USA, Canada and Australia being the popular ones. There are though many many professionals here who have been here for thirty plus years and have done exceptionally well. I moved to the Middle East with Voltas-Tata and worked with them in three different places before a lucky break with Aggreko. The Aggreko business did all of US$10m in revenue in my first year with them, regionally. Dubai then became the company’s HQ for all of its international business spread across the entire southern hemisphere and more. The business saw a 100 fold growth in 10 years, providing wonderful opportunities for growth and development for colleagues and I. And now, I am back with Voltas-Tata and into my fifth year but with a very different role. It is a fact that, in the past twenty years, thanks to booming growth from several initiatives by its farsighted rulers, the UAE and teh Middle East have turned into a magnet for many aspiring professionals from the world over.
“One can never put roots down” is another issue that is raised and yes, in a way of speaking, it is true. However, with the introduction of freehold properties and the more recent golden and retirement visas there is the opportunity to stay as long as one wants, it financially viable. Many people who are not employed anymore, by choice or otherwise, have started entrepreneurial ventures. Most often, the drivers are continuity for studying children and, importantly, the quality of life and safety on offer here. There are several families with even third generations working and starting their own families here. Madhu started school here, did her graduation in the UK, returned to Dubai five years ago, gained a professional qualification and has progressed to a managerial role. And Nandhu, born here, now in her second year at university, again in the UK and incidentally the same as the one Madhu went to, may very well come back here to work.
“It is too hot and humid and uncomfortable”. Yes, for a few months in the year. Then again, the airconditioned environments everywhere mean that it is comfortable even during these months. And, for almost half the year the weather is nothing short of glorious with just-right temperatures for plenty of outdoor activity options. It is heaven for an early-riser and a outdoors lover like me.
“It is plastic and not real” is another statement made commonly. Yes, there are several man-made developments and some of them quite grandiose, but most are of high quality, modern and tasteful. We are, indeed, very proud to have the magnificently imposing Burj Khalifa in our own city. The Middle East and the UAE also have wonderful beaches and stunning desert and mountain landscapes. The beaches are marvelously clean with the waters neither too warm or too cold, year-round. And the sunsets and sunrises are nothing short of spectacular. The sunsets at the Kite Beach take up more than half the space in my phone’s photos album.
“All food products are imported and nothing is fresh”. Fair shout, but a visit to one of the supermarkets will show well stocked shelves and bins with a variety of fresh and processed food from all over the world. Fresh produce — fruit, vegetables and meat — are flow in, though with increasingly more local farming and use of hydroponics. The seas abound in sea food with fresh catch available in clean and hygienic markets. And the choice of restaurants for eating out! I will just say that there is no other place on earth offering such eclectic fare — national and even regional cuisines — and at prices to suit every pocket. For a foodie like me, this is simply food-heaven.
“News is censored and filtered”, is again a fair call. However, one does have access to all worldwide media online and on television. None of the local press — print or TV — is sensational or biased and present news as news. The Gulf News has been a every-morning read for all the time that we have lived here.
“The quality of education institutions is poor”. While this may have been the case years ago, we have increasingly seen a choice of high quality institutions with good faculty offering good options to discerning parents and students. Several parents and students are even opting for graduation studies locally while overseas study is that much more easily accessible from here. The girls started with the Indian — CBSE and ICSE — syllabus but moved to IB which set them up nicely for entry into a good university in the UK.
“You need to go back home for proper medical care and treatment”. Like with education, health care facilities have progressed to world-class with government mandated medical insurance allowing the use of well-appointed hygienic clinics and hospitals with good doctors and nursing staff.
“You are away from family and friends”. Travel time home, especially for those of us from the sub-continent, and costs are comparable or even lesser than traveling within home countries. Rules have been eased to have dependent parents stay here and for family and friends to visit. “People move on and so friendships do not last”. But then, where does that NOT happen?
The Middle East, within that the UAE and especially Dubai, has become home. A place that we are proud to call as home.
Home, with a lot of wonderful memories of starting a family and seeing the girls develop, grow into young adults and spread their wings. Home, which provided wonderful opportunities for professional growth and related rewards. Home, with some wonderful friends and relationships formed and maintained. Home, which has seen me develop as an individual and grow as a person. Home, which has helped me realize my potential a bit more. Home, which has been a fun place to live in with great options for food, fitness and travel. Home, which continues to offer a lot of promise for the future.
A home, away from home!
