Like most other software engineers around the globe, one of my significant career goals is to live the American dream and I see the H1B VISA as a ticket to live that dream. Turns out, my employer nominated H1B petition was not picked up in the lottery even this year. I took a long sigh wishing it was not driven by sheer luck. Having said that, congratulations to the 68000 lottery winners.
This added to the existing commotion with my managers over an unfair year end appraisal quoting my recent promotion and the Visa nomination, I am thinking if I got too comfortable at a place where my skills and hard-work are taken for granted And undervalued. I felt low after back to back blows at work, obvious place I leaned in to find solace is that special person. While I am keeping my stern fighting face with my supervisors at work, I could not keep my pride to him but wrote him an email about my lamentations, for he is the most positive person I know only second to my mom and he is someone who know how much I was looking forward to this Visa as I missed multiple travel opportunities in the past two years. Just like I knew, he responded back with words of comfort to console me like a good friend – just like he promised. Hope I did not make him uncomfortable with my email, like I promised.
Every cloud has a silver lining, and in my case the silver lining turns out to be my realisation towards the importance for work life balance. As I mentioned earlier in one of the posts in the series, this time is my longest stay at home since I started working. Yes, it is not very easy for someone who prefer being aloof and keep an extremely private profile; and yes, it is not very easy for someone to live in a place with extremely contrasting ideologies in various matters from theology to feminism. But my family made it easy for me – they are tolerant to my differences and I respect their roots.
The life in suburbs is always surrounded by communions and celebrations where the barter system still exists where people exchange the local produce for love, hope and smiles. And it is especially refreshing and therapeutic in the company of my little nephew, niece and their friends. P.S. More of their story in later posts 🙂
Sharmili unplugged....... 