Am I welcome Here?

Many Indians have moved to the USA. Some have moved back to India. Those Indians always have a nagging worry on what was the right thing to do

I was in the USA for 5 years. Then i decided one day to move back to India. I started a construction company. I'm doing quite well. But i always wonder if I would have done better if I had stayed back in the USA. What are the plus points of each country?

I remember once I was driving around with a white friend of mine searching for an address. It was a remote part of town where there were no cars at all. We were in what felt like private property. I accidentally went down a small road and promptly heard the dreaded whistle of a police car behind me. I stopped immediately and the policeman came up to my window and asked me for my drivers license and registration. Which i handed him. I asked him what the problem was. He said it was a one way street. I asked him where the sign was. He pointed to to a sign that was half hidden by the branch of a tree. I pointed out to him that the sign was hidden from view. He said it was my responsibility to know the law. And proceeded to write out a ticket. Suddenly my white friend interrupted. He said 'We couldn't see the sign Officer' . The minute the white policeman saw my white friend he stopped. 'You with this gentleman?', he asked. 'Yes', replied my friend. 'Okay. Be careful next time', he replied and went away without giving me a ticket.

Another time in my office there were two of us who had to be given green cards. One was a white Russian Engineer and myself. Both of our green cards were processed and he was given his green card. But mine was delayed. For several months I was told there was some 'processing' problem. I finally quit in a huff and after i quit they offered the green card to me. But it was too late. I had decided to come back to India.

When I returned I felt an unfair advantage for having studied in the USA. Everyone respected me. Just last week I was told by a customer that he was 'grateful' that I had decided to come back! My business is doing well. However I have the nasty headaches of having to deal with Sales Tax and other government officials. Bribes are commonplace. Roads are terrible. The people are friendly. Clubs are plentiful. Opportunities abound. Girls look you in the eye here.

But I used to regret coming back till i remembered the story of the two salesmen who were sent to this remote island to sell shoes. First one wrote back.
' Dont send shoes. No one wears shoes here'
Second one wired back ' Send all stocks. No one wears shoes here!'
Its all in ones point of view. I grew up here. I understand the people here. Im at home here despite everything. I write letters join action groups and try to change things. And most importantly i recognise the potential of this country. There are so many things we havent thought of here that are passe in the USA. U can be a hero here. There all u can be is an 'also ran' And who wants to work there an enrich their coffers when I can do the same here and increase my own and the countrys.
The first play i did got a quarter page review. Cant dream of that in the good ol USA. I manufacture products that noone else manufactures. Cant do that there either. I hire people without worrying if I will go broke doing so and do esoteric research 'because i can afford it'. Nopes not possible there.
So i wire back to those in the USA 'Come back to India' Noone wears shoes here!'