If you had to work in India, which of these jobs would you do?

steven_ber · Oct 20th, 2003, 19:24

If you had to work in India, which of these jobs would you do?

Why?

Vasko · Oct 20th, 2003, 19:53

Bus driver!

Because I'm scared sh**less whenever someone else is driving! I swear, I never talk to myself outloud as much as I do on buses, repeating phrases like: "No, don't overtake that car now, for godsake", "Oh sh*t" and "I'm dead".

I'd be the most chillin' bus driver in the land, just taking it nice and slow... Being at the wheel would at least create an illusion of control and safety.

Samsara · Oct 20th, 2003, 20:11

I chose language teacher - my mother just retired from her career as an English as a Second language teacher, and there are a couple of other teachers in the family (my cousin was teaching English in India for some years, though now she's back in London). I was offered a job as an Australian army literacy teacher when I graduated from university and looking back I see now that would have been my ideal career (the Army careers officer had it right and I had it wrong back then, lol). I've tutored a bit in English over the years. I think English and other language skills are very important for Indians. I like languages - I studied languages in high school and at university as well and in other courses. I'm studying Hindi at the moment. I liked tutoring but I think I would only want to teach in nice surroundings though - both for my sake and the students sake. Nothing worse than a drab awful stressful teaching environment. And maybe I would only like to do it part-time so I get to do other things too, and it would have to be in a town or place I want to be in - I guess I'm just too fussy.

I wouldn't mind being a tour guide either - there is apparently an eccentric old Englishmen who does fantastic guided walking tours of Old Delhi but it's hard to get on his tours as they are booked out months in advance it seems and you can only put your name down for them at a book left at the British Embassy's gatehouse? Anyway, I wouldn't mind doing something like that, again only a couple of times a week I guess. It would be a shame to be in India and be forced into the 9 to 5 ratrace all over again. I'ld rather do some art, dance, yoga, language or whatever courses as well and sightsee and stuff.

I wouldn't mind being on a tea garden, but I don't think I got the physical stamina for tea picking.

Would you pick train driver, steven_ber? Or even better, I think you would be a natural to do train tours!

-m2- · Oct 21st, 2003, 02:52

argh, what choices!

By process of elimination, I wind up choosing train driver -- maybe not so bad actually, nice views and no traffic or people hassles to deal with. Tea picking would at least gets you out of doors into nice surroundings but I'm pretty sure my back wouldn't take it, though. Don't have much patience for dealing with the public any more so wouldn't last long as a tour guide, rickshaw driver or travel agent. I'd definitely avoid plying the highways as a way to make a living, so lorry and bus driving definitely out, though I can understand Vasko's reasoning (and I'd be happy to ride his bus

) washing clothes or begging; hmm, no thanks. Exec assistant to the first minister of Bihar might be interesting or perhaps if I was younger, a Bollywood stunt-man....must be some better choices, but glad I didn't have to get down to a microsoft call-centre job or anything really unpleasant like that

guerik · Oct 21st, 2003, 06:19

I chose travel agent - hopefully there would be some good perks of that job!

indiamike · Oct 21st, 2003, 06:56

You know I am going to ride on the 'single guy still on the prowl' wave.

I picked Tour guide and not so much that I want to be a tour guide because I don't. But out of all those jobs it's the one with the constant revolving door of meeting new people and I would be willing to bet that at least one out of a hundred guided tours would involve me taking a pair of Swedish Nurses on a tour. Could be Norwegian Stewardesses, or pair of English Nannies...not to picky there. But with the other jobs I really don't see this happening to much.

But this is the way a man thinks, or at least me, and you just gotta have your priorities straight when thinking about a new career.

concoran · Oct 21st, 2003, 06:56

I chose train driver as I would get to see the entire country for free, along with the family (driver's family gets free rides, officially that is.). I would never choose to drive an express train, instead choose slow moving passenger trains that stop at every station.

Vasko · Oct 21st, 2003, 14:24

Btw, steven_ber, why are 4 out of the 10 jobs offered here from the field of transportation???

steven_ber · Oct 22nd, 2003, 10:11

Rickshaw Driver for me.

Am I the only one who gets a thrill by racing around cities in a rickshaw?

I would love to drive one in London, whizzing in and out of the traffic, beeping the horn constantly, Bollywood music blaring out of a cheap stereo, oh happy day.

Rickshaw for sale in England. (this link will not work after 30th October)

Quote:

Btw, steven_ber, why are 4 out of the 10 jobs offered here from the field of transportation???

They were the first 10 I thought of.

exult · Dec 1st, 2003, 00:58

having worked as a tour guide/tour leader myself for 14 years (mostly in Asia, but never in India), I chose that job although the list of choice does not include professions that I would more enjoy if I were re-incarnated as an Indian, man or woman, with my present tastes :
I'd love most of all to be a classical musician in India, or a journalist, or a writer, or a sociologist, or... or...... (endless list !)

worst job proposed here seem for me : 1) beggar and 2) tea picker, as they are generally exploited, as the tea business is not in a good state for the moment, and as there is plenty of violence and unrest in the tea estates in West Bengal and north east India (as far as I read in the local press).

pooch · Dec 1st, 2003, 01:20

Beggars exploited ?? they're all out there to exploit us!!

exult · Dec 1st, 2003, 02:31

sorry, I meant only the tea pickers - but BTW, beggars can be exploited too, if they are working for pimps ??

rickshawwallah · Dec 12th, 2003, 08:01

No points for guessing which one I chose.

SHIMLA · Dec 12th, 2003, 08:30

Language Teacher !

Would love to teach English to college students and MBA aspirants. Did so for a very short term last year, enjoyed the experience!

kiranlal · Sep 21st, 2005, 20:06

i choose Lorry driver - because it give much better chance and wide destinations, they really mee the real indian experiances every where.

View Poll Results: If you had to work in India, which of these jobs would you do?
Dhobi wallah	5	1.73%
Bus driver	5	1.73%
Tour guide	74	25.61%
Train driver	30	10.38%
Language teacher	75	25.95%
Beggar	13	4.50%
Rickshaw driver	12	4.15%
Travel agent	47	16.26%
Tea picker	14	4.84%
Lorry driver	14	4.84%
Voters: 289. You may not vote on this poll

Oct 20th, 2003, 19:24	#1
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,569	If you had to work in India, which of these jobs would you do? If you had to work in India, which of these jobs would you do? Why?

Oct 20th, 2003, 20:11	#3
Samsara Sentient Being Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 507	I chose language teacher - my mother just retired from her career as an English as a Second language teacher, and there are a couple of other teachers in the family (my cousin was teaching English in India for some years, though now she's back in London). I was offered a job as an Australian army literacy teacher when I graduated from university and looking back I see now that would have been my ideal career (the Army careers officer had it right and I had it wrong back then, lol). I've tutored a bit in English over the years. I think English and other language skills are very important for Indians. I like languages - I studied languages in high school and at university as well and in other courses. I'm studying Hindi at the moment. I liked tutoring but I think I would only want to teach in nice surroundings though - both for my sake and the students sake. Nothing worse than a drab awful stressful teaching environment. And maybe I would only like to do it part-time so I get to do other things too, and it would have to be in a town or place I want to be in - I guess I'm just too fussy. I wouldn't mind being a tour guide either - there is apparently an eccentric old Englishmen who does fantastic guided walking tours of Old Delhi but it's hard to get on his tours as they are booked out months in advance it seems and you can only put your name down for them at a book left at the British Embassy's gatehouse? Anyway, I wouldn't mind doing something like that, again only a couple of times a week I guess. It would be a shame to be in India and be forced into the 9 to 5 ratrace all over again. I'ld rather do some art, dance, yoga, language or whatever courses as well and sightsee and stuff. I wouldn't mind being on a tea garden, but I don't think I got the physical stamina for tea picking. Would you pick train driver, steven_ber? Or even better, I think you would be a natural to do train tours! Last edited by Samsara : Oct 20th, 2003 at 20:45.

Dec 12th, 2003, 08:30	#14
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,126	Language Teacher ! Would love to teach English to college students and MBA aspirants. Did so for a very short term last year, enjoyed the experience! __________________ Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

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Oct 20th, 2003, 19:53	#2
Vasko Non-speaker fruit-eater Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: State of Contemplation Posts: 517	Bus driver! Because I'm scared sh*less whenever someone else is driving! I swear, I never talk to myself outloud as much as I do on buses, repeating phrases like: "No, don't overtake that car now, for godsake", "Oh sht" and "I'm dead". I'd be the most chillin' bus driver in the land, just taking it nice and slow... Being at the wheel would at least create an illusion of control and safety.

Oct 21st, 2003, 02:52	#4
-m2- . Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,575	argh, what choices! By process of elimination, I wind up choosing train driver -- maybe not so bad actually, nice views and no traffic or people hassles to deal with. Tea picking would at least gets you out of doors into nice surroundings but I'm pretty sure my back wouldn't take it, though. Don't have much patience for dealing with the public any more so wouldn't last long as a tour guide, rickshaw driver or travel agent. I'd definitely avoid plying the highways as a way to make a living, so lorry and bus driving definitely out, though I can understand Vasko's reasoning (and I'd be happy to ride his bus ) washing clothes or begging; hmm, no thanks. Exec assistant to the first minister of Bihar might be interesting or perhaps if I was younger, a Bollywood stunt-man....must be some better choices, but glad I didn't have to get down to a microsoft call-centre job or anything really unpleasant like that

Oct 21st, 2003, 06:19	#5
guerik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,038	I chose travel agent - hopefully there would be some good perks of that job!

Oct 21st, 2003, 06:56	#6
indiamike Retired Admin Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New Joisey for now Posts: 1,759	You know I am going to ride on the 'single guy still on the prowl' wave. I picked Tour guide and not so much that I want to be a tour guide because I don't. But out of all those jobs it's the one with the constant revolving door of meeting new people and I would be willing to bet that at least one out of a hundred guided tours would involve me taking a pair of Swedish Nurses on a tour. Could be Norwegian Stewardesses, or pair of English Nannies...not to picky there. But with the other jobs I really don't see this happening to much. But this is the way a man thinks, or at least me, and you just gotta have your priorities straight when thinking about a new career.

Oct 21st, 2003, 06:56	#7
concoran Explorer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Desert Southwest Posts: 319	I chose train driver as I would get to see the entire country for free, along with the family (driver's family gets free rides, officially that is.). I would never choose to drive an express train, instead choose slow moving passenger trains that stop at every station.

Oct 21st, 2003, 14:24	#8
Vasko Non-speaker fruit-eater Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: State of Contemplation Posts: 517	Btw, steven_ber, why are 4 out of the 10 jobs offered here from the field of transportation???

Dec 1st, 2003, 00:58	#10
exult Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: brussels, belgium Posts: 7	having worked as a tour guide/tour leader myself for 14 years (mostly in Asia, but never in India), I chose that job although the list of choice does not include professions that I would more enjoy if I were re-incarnated as an Indian, man or woman, with my present tastes : I'd love most of all to be a classical musician in India, or a journalist, or a writer, or a sociologist, or... or...... (endless list !) worst job proposed here seem for me : 1) beggar and 2) tea picker, as they are generally exploited, as the tea business is not in a good state for the moment, and as there is plenty of violence and unrest in the tea estates in West Bengal and north east India (as far as I read in the local press).

Dec 1st, 2003, 01:20	#11
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Middle East <---->India Posts: 384	Beggars exploited ?? they're all out there to exploit us!!

Dec 1st, 2003, 02:31	#12
exult Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: brussels, belgium Posts: 7	sorry, I meant only the tea pickers - but BTW, beggars can be exploited too, if they are working for pimps ??

Dec 12th, 2003, 08:01	#13
rickshawwallah I know cheap and best! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York City, USA Posts: 204	No points for guessing which one I chose.

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Sep 21st, 2005, 20:06	#15
kiranlal The only one of its kind Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Trivandrum,Kerala,India,Malaysia,Singapore Posts: 530	i choose Lorry driver - because it give much better chance and wide destinations, they really mee the real indian experiances every where.