The Magical Kitchen

Our apartment got a face-lift, of the new fridgerator/working toaster kind. Now we have a new toaster, a mini-oven, set of Cerulan blue-flowered flat ware and dishes, and of course, the beautiful blender which has re-introduced me into the blissful world of fruit smoothies. Finally, I'm taking full advantage of the overwhelming amount of fresh produce easily available 20 meters from my front door. Jamba Juice, I miss you no more.

As we live in a weird company-sponsored apartment situation, the company footed the bill for our new kitchen toys. Out of pity? Who knows, but so darling of them caring for their bottom-rung employees like that!

Although I still have the really scary manual-operating easily-combustible kerosene stove top, the new appliances are lovely. It's nice to not have to wash your hands free of filth after struggling to make the gummified/dirty/yellowed toaster work.

I was so inspired by this seemingly random act of kindness from my employer, that I cleaned the entire Kitchen on top of it all. I organized the monstrous pile of instant-food (ie powdered mased potatos, refried beans) that my Mom had lovingly hauled through 3 airports and long custom lines in her recent visit.

Before, it sat dejectedly in a lump in the corner- such an embarrasment and eyesore (who wants their friends to know they can't cook!) and I couldn't bear the thought of spending more than 5 minutes in The Kitchen re-arranging it all.

I wouldn't say that my relationship with The Kitchen is nearly as friendly, productive or OCDified as my mothers or Desperate Housewife Breee Vandecamps, but its improving. Gradually.

The villianified Kitchen is organized, and although it pains me to admit it, I like it. The powdered fruit drink mixes are separately tucked into matching silver bowls alongside the powdered Herb-Roasted Mashed Potato Mix.

Before I speak too soon, it has barely been 24 hours since The Kitchen makeover. This may be a mere one-night stand The Kitchen and I enjoy before its back to our long-term destructive and spiteful relationship. But I hope not.

An Accurate Portrayal

"Texans Heed Call: Go East to India"

A reporter from the Dallas Morning News wrote a small piece on Americans in Bangalore. Being one of the resources he quoted for the article, he tried to have me approve a quote that sounded something like "It's so cheap here the cost- everything is 1/5 the cost in the US," to which I couldn't agree with.

A few email battles later debating ego and integrity, he revised the quote to a more palatable and truthful line.

Unforunately, the other American's didn't come out so well. Talking about how you're spoiled, rich and can't stand the massive poverty and chaotic streets is so uncute. And, its probably not the best way to further your professional career when your company name is mentioned in conjunction with your narrow-minded comments. Enough with the stereotypes!

Nailing the "India is cheap, lets all exploit it" story is prime-time entertainment. It's so juicy, it makes the American media news machine salivate over the thought of stranded expats roughing it out in a backwards nation... exploring the "other side" of outsourcing.

When India has arguably more relevant and pressing stories (say the Indian Universities' ability to produce globally competent employees, the disillusioned rural youth, or the newly consumerist middle class) its frustrating that the same old "Look! Isn't Third World is Backwards!" theme gets more painful replayed coverage than Janet Jackson's Superbowl Nipplegate.

Everyone wants in on this story too. A reporter came down from the NBC Nightly News who again tried to manipulate my words. On camera, I was casually prompted 3 different times to off-handedly agree with the reporter, Campbell Brown, that India was "dirt cheap" and the cost of living- and quality of life- is "practically zero."

Instead I went waxed on and on far too long about the cultural learning, international trade flows, and the benefits of Microfinance. But this is showbusiness. My idealism, truthfulness and perfected coiffed hair were nicely edited out of the piece.

However, it seems to be that you need to shamelessly talk about yourself and your "resume-building" in order to be quoted.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8004316/ = Nightly News in Bangalore.

Its fine to be career-oriented, but it becomes a problem when its the only thing you're ever quoted on. And its a bad message to send to the public and the world. Is this to say our foreign presence is adding zero value to our company? That our sole purpose in being here is to beef up our Resumes?

As 2005 teen pop sensation Stacie Orrico would say- "There's gotta be more to life."

Granted, reporters endlessly try to goad us into agreeing to very biased, leading questions that would paint a perfect picture for their story. Sure, its can be intimidating. You want to be quoted. But at what coast? Fight the urge to say something canned and belittling to your journey here-- you're representing your character.

As a tribute to all our "Friends With Resumes".... I present TS Eliot's "The Hollow Men"

We are the hollow men
We are the stuffed men
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!
Our dried voices, when
We whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless
As wind in dry grass
Or rats' feet over broken glass
In our dry cellar

Shape without form, shade without colour,
Paralysed force, gesture without motion;

Those who have crossed
With direct eyes, to death's other Kingdom
Remember us -- if at all -- not as lost
Violent souls, but only
As the hollow men
The stuffed men.