We cleaned our plates feasting on some of the most delicious Ceviche and Sushi I have ever eaten. The Chef, Ahmed, stopped by our corner table to check on us. As we chatted, he told us that he was from Indonesia. He spoke in quiet tones about how he misses his wife and his two little children that he sees only once a year.
The emotion was visible in his voice. He works in Grand Cayman so that he can provide a good education and a comfortable life for his family. Rohini and I were both touched by his story.
While I have heard this tale on many occasions, in multiple countries, the sacrifices people make for their loved ones always resonates with me. I think back to the sacrifices my parents made to send me half way around the world, so that I could make a life for myself. I never understood ‘what was the big deal,’ then. I get it now.
Now that I am older, and hopefully a tad wiser, I get the importance of being less materialistic and more humanistic. We don’t make sacrifices in anticipation of reward. Seeing the people we love, blossom, is a reward in itself. And as one generation passes the baton to the next, the rites of passage continue…..
About Hemant Rustogi