Sleepless in Melbourne, Hello Seattle
And so it happened, I moved continents yet again. This time it was destination USA.
The shift was a whirlwind affair and just thinking about it now gives me PTSD. Suffice it is to say that I made it alive to the US - well, planning and executing this massive trans-Pacific shift put me in a state of grave distress. I’m so glad it’s all behind me now.
Seattle welcomed me with open arms at the peak of the summer season - it was love at first sight. Right off the bat, it felt like home and it reminded me of ‘Dehradun’ my hometown in India - ah, that feeling of being surrounded by the mountains.
I am quite surprised Seattle doesn’t get enough airtime when people talk about the top cities in the US to move to, it’s as though the residents willfully keep this gorgeous city under the wraps lest it become the next go-to destination for the otherwise desperate Americans suffering from ennui and looking to move interstate.
For now, I am thoroughly enjoying the thrill of having just moved to a new city and am still playing touristy - talk about spending a fortune on ‘Seattle / Pacific Northwest’ merchandise!
Ever since my husband got a job in the States, moving to the US is the singular thing I have wanted the most. I had been sleepless in Melbourne obsessing over when I’d be able to join him here…it hasn’t been easy - coming to terms with this continental shift, working through an intracompany transfer from Australia to the US with my current firm, getting a permit to work in the US (don’t even get me started on getting an appointment at the US embassy in Melbourne or anywhere else in the world), the pressure of establishing myself again and building an ecosystem from the ground up…all over again. I was and still am consumed by this and am trying not to let these thoughts get the better of me.
As an Indian, living in the US makes more sense than living in Australia. Objectively speaking :-
- White collared Indian community is quite strong in the US.
- Indians are the richest ethnic group by household income in the US. Many times we even rule the roost - thanks, no thanks to the ‘brain drain’ that’s been happening from India to the US since the 70s.
- My husband and I make more money here than we could ever have made in Australia. Not to forget US dollar is stronger than Australian dollar.
- We understand the US REALLY WELL - thanks to the American TV shows, movies, pop culture and food that has been permeating globally since time immemorial.
- Americans are straight shooters and there’s seldom guess work involved post any conversation at work where we wonder “What did they really want from me?”
- American accent is quite easy to understand unlike the Australian accent.
- Indians in the past have already proved themselves in the US so we as a community have already made it here. We are assumed competent unless proven otherwise and not the other way around as in Australia.
- Work niceties and small talk are perpetually at check - so the prologue ‘conversation dance’ we engage in before getting into business is not longer than needed.
- The diversity makes us feel immensely comfortable especially the experience and struggle of other ethnic first generation immigrants makes it real and relatable for us.
- And lastly, so many role models to look up to. They’ve made it BIG here and so can we.
I doubt anyone would argue with the above facts if they’ve worked and spent enough time in the US.
But despite all these reasons why do I still miss Melbourne? I was alone and miserable there for the last one year. I hated every moment of it.
It doesn’t make sense…my family (my cat included, who I managed to move from Australia to the US) is here with me.
Why do I still feel like I left a piece of my heart behind in Melbourne…and now I find myself tirelessly trying to piece it back together.
And somehow I have a feeling that void will likely never be filled...
