There’s a whole different world out there…

On the day I left my village, our neighbors came in to say bye. One brought a big pot of Uzbek rice, with lots of meat. I emphasize the meat because people can’t afford to buy enough meat for their families here. Others brought a small face towel, pair of socks – and whatever they could get as a gift. Such is the tradition here when bidding farewell, people who are staying behind will give something to the ones who are leaving. I admire the simplicity of their gifts as well as the tradition. Because really the joy isn’t in the value of the gift but the joy is in giving and receiving. A simple act of exchange to say that someone cares about you is a beautiful thing. My kids were surprised most of these women still remembered me by name although I left my birthplace very young. And they even knew about my children although they never met. They care so much about each other and each other’s lives – I find it sometimes mesmerizing and sometimes irritating (not used to be answering 100 questions about your private life – yes exactly that!) Most of these women have never left our small town, born and bred right here in the countryside. The moment they get together, they will be busy chatting about the increasing price of groceries or who is getting married or who is having a child and who is sick in the hospital. Strangely enough, I find comfort in their conversations. Makes me realize how very pathetic my own problems are I sit listening to their chit chats, I don’t feel odd or uncomfortable, I flow in so easily, relate to what they’re saying, although our lifestyles are so very different. These are the women who never left our town and simply getting on with their lives. I so wish to show them that there’s a totally different world out there … But I know I can’t…. Now here comes the funny part. Due to my education, career and general life experience of living mostly abroad, I also mingle with upper-middle-class people. I gel in quite well in those circles too. They talk about their latest holiday abroad or which after-school club their child is attending at the moment or about their next career goals and business plans. They talk about renewing their perfectly functioning kitchen because it’s now old and discuss how they can move on the ladder of promotion at work. I don’t feel odd or uncomfortable. I have something to contribute to the flow of conversation. But I also wish to show them that there’s a whole different world out there I don’t know where in life you are at the moment, but know that there’s a whole different world out there where people never think of going on holiday, where eating out is totally forbidden because it’s such a waste of money, where people earn as little as $100 a month and just content with it. People who didn’t get to finish high school or never made it to a university and work really hard to earn a living. People whose monthly income is less than our daily expenses and yet still have the same baseline of happiness or contentment. Living simple life on their own terms, within their means and with their own philosophy of life. For me, it feels really weird to be able to mingle with two sets of social groups at the same time. One who complains about not being able to travel abroad this year due to pandemic and another whose only concern is why the price of oil is getting so expensive and how they’ll be able to afford it next month. Sometimes I secretly imagine having a big gathering where I invite people from both sides and how they would have nothing to tell to each other…. Or would they?