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February 26, 2004
Byebye India!
Hey everyone! Question: In India 3 wheeled vehicles are called "Rickshaws". In Japanese, they're called 人力車 jinrikusya right? Is this coincidence? Is it ateji? Or was the English world built based on the Japanese pronunciation? What's up?? 
Sorry for the long silence. I'm done with the India thing! Tomorrow I fly back to Japan. Let me tell you something. I have traveled to many different countries, but nothing prepared me for India. Japan is so easy compared to life in India. So much easier. Everything about India was mind blowing. Driving (well, riding in a car being driven by someone anyway), eating, shopping, goodness... shopping... Having said all that though, I really want to go back to South India again if I get the chance. Kerala was a very cool place. In fact, other than Bombay, Dehli, and Agra, I had a very good time. Dharamsala and Cochin are my recommendations. Anyway, after I get back to Japan I will be moving to Osaka. So, I think I will start focusing on 'Kansai' things for the site. Alright, that's all the rambling I have time for now. Later~ -Harvey Comments
Welcome back buddy! Here's my question: did your company have you there training Idian IT workers, or were 'you' being trained? I've definitely jumped on the bandwagon of IT professionals angry at India for taking American jobs, so I'm curious to know what happened in your situation. Posted by: RIO on February 26, 2004 09:28 AMNaw, we were there taking a Business Dynamics course together, we were all being trained, in softer, non-IT related subjects. My company does outsource a -lot- to India and China however. But dude, your anger is directed at the wrong place, you shouldn't be angry at India... US Jobs wouldn't be going overseas if American managers didn't choose to use off shore resources... the choice is up to the US conmpanies dude. Capitalism works that way though. Cost savings anyway possible... Posted by: Harvey on February 26, 2004 02:04 PMGood to hear that you were getting some training rather than training your replacement. As for direction of anger, it's not really anger per se, because I haven't been personally displaced/effected, so let's say irritation. Basically, a lot of Indian dudes come over to the U.S. on special visas, and go to our schools and get trained by our IT professionals, then they take our jobs. As a Wired article on the topic said recently, outsourced labor is one thing, but once you start talking knowledge work, you talking about taking the very meat of American workers. Where do you go after knowledge work is taken from you? Here's the thing, I'm all for "free trade capitalism" IF it works both ways. Meaning, if my IT job here in the states is shipped off to India, I have the option of moving to India to work for lower pay, but keep my job. But I happen to know several programmers who tried exactly that, and were turned down flat. Outsourcing, for American workers, is a one-way proposition. And I really don't fault the American companies, I fault the government/politicians who are signing the bills allowing this stuff to happen. They are suppposed to protect and serve U.S. citizens, but are not. Now you even have our president telling us we should allow illegal aliens into America en masse to take low wage jobs and give them amnesty. Again, if this was a two-way street I'd have no problem with it. But Americans are having their low wage jobs taken, their high wage jobs taken, we have the worst health care program of any Western nation, dude, at some point, American's have to stop the nonsense. Often, we don't understand the issues until they hit home. My close friends have been hit by this, so I feel it. Maybe you have yet to feel it. Posted by: RIO on February 27, 2004 02:17 AMI know a American dude who was working in Japan who got transfered to Dehli like 4 months ago, just met him during this trip actually. I was supposed to fly back to Japan tonight. But I got hosed at the airport, over booked. The Dehli airport is the most ridiculous place I have ever been in my life. Chaos at it's finest. I think those Americans who would have 'opted' to transfer to India with their jobs would have quit real soon after transfering anyway. Not to bash India, but there was a paper out a few weeks ago while I was in Bombay that ranked Bombay and Dehli among the bottom 7 cities in the world in terms of "comfortable of expat living". The article went on to mention that 10 other Indian cities were in the bottom half. India is an amazing place to visit, but geesh. I don't think I ever would want to live here long term... Anyway, as long as your anger is directed at the law makers and not India or Indians as a whole I got no problem with ya. Posted by: Harvey on February 27, 2004 04:42 AMgood to have you back!!! i cant wait till i get to nagoya. we should meet up for a drink or two. Posted by: chaz on February 28, 2004 04:44 PMYeah! When do you get to Nagoya Chaz? Sept? I'll have to check your website agian... (right hand side, savemefromtears all) I could use some asthetic tips (maybe spelling too) from your site as well. Heh. See you soon! Posted by: Harvey on February 29, 2004 12:10 AMIt looks like you put Mumbai on the "Other" list. What didn't you like about it? I found it to be almost livable compared to Delhi. Much fewer hassles. Taxis actually use their meters. People don't bother you as much. If you ask for water or something, you'll actually get charged the real price. Not many livestock in the streets. And the air was surprisingly breathable (relatively speaking of course). As for outsourcing... why get "irritated" about this? If this concerns you why are you not also concerned about the New England textile mills that are long gone? The Pennsylvania steel mills that are almost history. Or the many auto plants that have moved outside U.S. borders? "If this concerns you why are you not also concerned about the New England textile mills that are long gone? The Pennsylvania steel mills that are almost history. Or the many auto plants that have moved outside U.S. borders?" I 'am' concerned/irritated. Is there some reason everyone here seems so interested in defending India? Like I said before, it's hard to really "get it" until you are close to the effects of such government policy. And to Harvey, dude, if I feel like getting irritated at Indians, I will. They, along with Mexico and China, are taking valuable American jobs that Americans need. Perhaps you guys don't feel it because you have a regular pay check, but don't tell the huge numbers of American unemployed that they're not supposed to get miffed at the u.s. gov/overseas workers that their jobs are being taken. They have a right to be miffed. Posted by: RIO on March 3, 2004 05:27 AMI think it's ignorant to be annoyed at these countries. It is American policy that allows this situation. Just because Mexico or India is ready to capitalize on the opportunity, so what? American corporations would (and have done) the same. If you're going to be miffed at anything you should be miffed at your own government. Actually, it's ignorant to not read what a person writes, I 'did' say I was annoyed at the u.s. government. The fact that I tacked on a couple of other governments doesn't change anything. And let's be clear, I'm talking about the China, Mexico and Indian 'government,' not the actual bloodlines of the people and anyone from those places, so you can calm your bleeding liberal heart down, my ire is directed toward the policies of nations, not bloodlines. I love coming here, always sure to stir up trouble without even trying. ;^) Posted by: RIO on March 4, 2004 12:16 PMEscort-Finder's I had to fill out a "personal commitment" form today, for work. It outlines what I see myself Comment?
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