Silicon Valley

[Guest guest]

Hi Dr. Freeborn

 

One reason that there are so many Indians in Sv maybe because SV is a great

place to be. Second, in India the opportunities for the best is not what

it used to be, so people move out to where they can work and do well. Three,

is it also becuase of the way Indians think that they seem to successful

in IT ?

 

I live Madras, India and I had a German family for a few years as neighbours,

they loved the place and were reluctant to go back on transfer to Germany.

Now there is an Aussie family, with riotous kids, who have lived in India

for nearly three years and like it. For several decades India was considered

hardship posting for people from the West. Other than hippies and guru seeking

"below average jerks" most people tended to avoid this beautiful (and rather

crowded) country.

 

Practically everyone I know here has some onein their family in SV or in the process of going there or just come back.

:-)

Raghu

 

 

Rev. Dr. Susanne Freeborn wrote:

 

I live in the middle of Silicon Valley in a seven story apartment

building with 123 units that overlooks many IT corporations who are

our next door neighbors. More than 2/3 of the residents in my

building are Indians who have come here to work in IT. Our building

is not cheap, 2 bedroom apartments like mine rent for over $2,000 a

month to newcomers.

I have heard rumors and read some incomplete information in our local

newspapers about Indians being required to work more hours than their

American counterparts, and for less money. The pay in Silicon Valley

is outrageous and the living expense is at the top of the entire US

market for housing and cost of living in general. While there is a

slump in the market here, 18 percent vacancy in commercial real

estate compared to 2 percent last year, things still look great. To

afford to live here you have to make at least $25 an hour.

My neighbors are mostly pretty happy people, and I love the Divali

Festival we have been fortunate enough to be allowed to hold in our

recreation room every year. One of the best things about living here

is that it is almost as diverse in culture as New York City.

Perhaps there is some improvement in living conditions, but it sure

seems that it is my life that is enriched by living in this

building. If there being here is at the expense of an unfair

advantage to their American co-workers, I have to say it really

pisses me off. How non-dual is that? This makes me want to find out

and see what I can do. I guess with the new cars, the fragrant

smells of the food in the hallways, the luxury saris and miniature

bicycles for the cute little toddlers, I didn't realize that

something might be less than fair that is going on in the IT

workplace.

I hate injustice, and it always brings up an US vs. THEM idea, Now I

have to go pray.

Susanne