Life in Goa V/s Life in the UAE
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Have you
ever thought or wondered what does it feel like to live and settle in this
country after having spent all your life growing up in the villages and towns
of Goa? What is it that makes UAE, a go-to destination for tourists and
visitors worldwide and how can we look upon this country as a model for Goa to
emulate?
As someone who grew up and studied in the UAE, I have had a
lot of rich experiences with the lifestyle, the culture, and the urban vibe
that the country offers to both its residents and visitors who come from
different parts of the world. Though
both destinations have now become major brand names, there is a lot that
differentiates the villages and towns of Goa from the wide urban sprawls and
city avenues of the UAE!
1) Fast Paced and
Convenient Lifestyle
Whether you are a student, an office-goer or just a
house-wife, anything and everything is fast in the country. It’s no surprise
that my favorite meal from Mc Donald’s is delivered to my doorstep 15 minutes
in advance of the actual time, in contrast to the constant delays in the
delivery of the same meal in Goa – either due to the traffic or the difficulty
in being able to locate your premises – two of the most common excuses in Goa!
2) Organized
Transport System
From buses, taxis, metros and trams to a strict fine system, every single emirate of the UAE is equipped with an organized and efficient transport system that eases the lives of residents and locals living in the country. It is so organized that at the dot of 5 minutes and at the exact time– a public bus will be seen approaching the nearest bus-station to pick and drop passengers. This is unlike my state of Goa where we must wait a long time to get the bus. To add to it, the buses in Goa stop anywhere, in the middle of a puddle and you are expected to do the long jump into the overcrowded bus before it leaves to go to the next bus station!
3) The ‘Always
On’ Culture!
UAE is also known for its ‘always on’ culture. Whether it is
7 AM in the morning or 12 PM in the night – I always find a restaurant, a
supermarket or even a stationary shop kept open 24/7. The same cannot be said
for Goa, where all shopping areas are shut by 7 PM, and by 10 PM, live music
needs to come to a halt!
4) Cleanliness
upto the Mark!
I am always wary of walking blindly on the streets of Goa
fearing I may trample on lurking human or animal excreta if I don’t watch my
step. I have never faced this dilemma while in the UAE. One can never find
stray cows, dogs and cats wandering along the streets of the UAE, unlike in Goa
where such animals walk with gay abandon.
5) High Speed
Connectivity and Fast Network
In every town, city, suburb of UAE, residents and visitors
have the advantage of high-speed network and connectivity. This stands in stark
contrast to Goa, where I have had to struggle to have a decent conversation
with my loved ones, and at times faced difficulty in accessing my urgent emails
and WhatsApp messages.
6) Dealing with
forces of nature
While in the U.A.E, I can blindly leave my uneaten dessert aside to relish later on during the day. This is unthinkable in Goa where an army of ants would attack the unattended dessert in a matter of minutes. I have never battled against such forces of nature while in the UAE!
While ‘susegad’ is our catchword, it well represents the way of life in Goa. I love my Goa and hope it continues to be the way it is, trapped in a time zone. It could however be a better state if it imbibes some of the plus points of fast-growing economies like the UAE, whilst still retaining its old-world charm.
Edited and re-published in ItsGoa
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