I lived in the US of A for a few years. Like a lot of youngsters from India, I went for my higher education and ended up working there for a while. Though everything was good, I found an empty space in me, like there was something missing right from the beginning. After a point of time I got used to the empty space and it did not bother me later on. Eventually I got married and had a baby. My husband and I decided we should go back to India so that our son could have the opportunity of spending time with his grandparents and great grand parents. Yes he is blessed with so many great people. That was 3 years ago. We moved back in the year 2011. The truth is it was a very difficult transition. I was dragging myself to work everyday. I was tired all the time. The heat, food, electricity situation, traffic and so many other things were just driving me crazy. I quit my job after 1 long year of struggle to find a reason to why I chose to work in a bank. I spent 3 months with my beautiful baby boy and kept looking out for reasons to go back to the US. I never thought about why I should remain here. I was selfish. That is all I can say now. A lot of people will disagree. But I cannot lie. And now when I am happy and content with what I am doing, I have to say that I am glad I stayed...
Through the few months after I quit my job, I started working on a lot of projects from home. I started blogging, started writing a book, planned out a complete lifestlye website for young and working women. All this kept me occupied. But the incomplete feeling continued. I kept looking for ways to block that feeling, instead of trying to go after it and finding out what the true yearning was. After we moved I missed the sprawling supermarkets and the "Fresh" section filled with fruits and vegetables. And so food became an issue. I love going out shopping for fresh vegetables and fruits. I missed the "Whole Foods" experience here. I looked around for good organic food stores around Chennai and visited some of them. I did not like what I saw. Then out of the blue I got an opportunity to visit a farm that belongs to a friend of my father. It was an organic farm and as he started talking about the ways and methods practiced, I fell in love. I knew that this is what I had been waiting for all this time. At that point my husband had also quit his job and both of us started working on our little organic store project. We started looking for more organic farmers. In the beginning it was very tough to talk to them and visit these farms. We were also learning about the various certifications available and how to know whether they were practicing organic methods. A wise friend of mine used to tell me that when something is meant to happen, the whole world would come to you and make it happen. That really happened. After the first month or so we started meeting a lot of like minded, good hearted people. We kept getting more and more references and our farms visits were increasing. We then sat down to name our store and start to market it. Our store is called Vaer, as in roots in Tamil. Vaer is not a regular organic store. We buy from farmers who are dedicated to the cause of saving the soil, water and the other species that depend on these resources as much as we do. We buy from groups that are formed to help farmers in need. Right from the beginning my husband and I were always interested in doing something that goes with the green and Eco conscious direction. When we landed at organic foods, we were sure that this was it. I would nt say that the empty space is completely filled, but the process to fill has started and my thirst for doing more and giving more is helping a lot.
We wanted to help the farmers who were in need and do our bit to this amazing society. This thought made us stick on and stay here. We love it now and are proud of ourselves for choosing to stay. We live with my grandparents. It is such a beautiful scene each day to watch this intricate society that is intertwined with relationships and marriages that work well when each person in the family understands the balance of life. So go out there and try to find a tiny bit of happiness by giving. It helps..
This is our store logo. Visit our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/vaerorganic
Our weblink is www.vaerorganic.com
Take the world by storm!!
Kayal
Through the few months after I quit my job, I started working on a lot of projects from home. I started blogging, started writing a book, planned out a complete lifestlye website for young and working women. All this kept me occupied. But the incomplete feeling continued. I kept looking for ways to block that feeling, instead of trying to go after it and finding out what the true yearning was. After we moved I missed the sprawling supermarkets and the "Fresh" section filled with fruits and vegetables. And so food became an issue. I love going out shopping for fresh vegetables and fruits. I missed the "Whole Foods" experience here. I looked around for good organic food stores around Chennai and visited some of them. I did not like what I saw. Then out of the blue I got an opportunity to visit a farm that belongs to a friend of my father. It was an organic farm and as he started talking about the ways and methods practiced, I fell in love. I knew that this is what I had been waiting for all this time. At that point my husband had also quit his job and both of us started working on our little organic store project. We started looking for more organic farmers. In the beginning it was very tough to talk to them and visit these farms. We were also learning about the various certifications available and how to know whether they were practicing organic methods. A wise friend of mine used to tell me that when something is meant to happen, the whole world would come to you and make it happen. That really happened. After the first month or so we started meeting a lot of like minded, good hearted people. We kept getting more and more references and our farms visits were increasing. We then sat down to name our store and start to market it. Our store is called Vaer, as in roots in Tamil. Vaer is not a regular organic store. We buy from farmers who are dedicated to the cause of saving the soil, water and the other species that depend on these resources as much as we do. We buy from groups that are formed to help farmers in need. Right from the beginning my husband and I were always interested in doing something that goes with the green and Eco conscious direction. When we landed at organic foods, we were sure that this was it. I would nt say that the empty space is completely filled, but the process to fill has started and my thirst for doing more and giving more is helping a lot.
We wanted to help the farmers who were in need and do our bit to this amazing society. This thought made us stick on and stay here. We love it now and are proud of ourselves for choosing to stay. We live with my grandparents. It is such a beautiful scene each day to watch this intricate society that is intertwined with relationships and marriages that work well when each person in the family understands the balance of life. So go out there and try to find a tiny bit of happiness by giving. It helps..
This is our store logo. Visit our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/vaerorganic
Our weblink is www.vaerorganic.com
Take the world by storm!!
Kayal
7 comments:
Thank you for sharing your story! It is very inspiring and heartening for me. I am American, but my husband is Indian and was born and raised in Bangalore. We lived the first 2 years of our married life together in Bangalore with his parents and were very happy. We moved to the US so he could spend time with my family and culture. We are 6 months away from his getting his citizenship here and now we have to decide if we should stay here or move back to India! It is a huge struggle for us as we love and hate things about both places. I really felt for your description of going back to India and feeling frustrated about how difficult work and living can be there after being in the west. It frightens me that I might get stressed and tired and just want to run back! At the same time, I also value the family and friends we have in India and long for that closeness and community all the time. Your story of finding a new and more meaningful path is so inspiring. I think going back to India will be worthwhile for us if we can do something half as inspiring! I am eager to learn more about your new venture and wish you all the best!
I just stumbled upon your blog. I must tell you, I just loved the way you expressed your feelings here. I had goosebumps reading some lines. Great going and a great inspiration to many people.
Hi Mrs Raja,
I'm Sam and I currently in London but have decided to move back to India and planning set up an Organic farming related business (Kind of like yours). The passion for healthy food is one of the reasons for choosing this business and then also my mom always complaining about how the veggies no longer tasting like they used to every time I sit for lunch.
I would like to pick your brain about this business and also to know how you stared this. Is it okay for you or your husband to provide me details and guidance?
If you can provide your phone number or email, I would be very grateful!
Many thanks,
Sam
Dear Anon,
Like you said, when we find something worthwhile to do, life becomes more meaningful and pleasurable. I m happy now and not confused. Wish you the best to make that choice. TC
Hey Sowmya,
Thanks a lot. Hopefully I ll bring myself to write more..soon.
But thanks for the kind words. It makes me want to blog more..
Have a good one.
Hey Sam,
You can write to me at kayal.r@gmail.com
Please feel free to email us, we would be more than glad to help you.
And Raja is my Dad. I am Mrs.Sriram.
;D
Interesting blog. I liked the way you found back your happiness in your home country. I am working on middle east in interested in doing something similar. Any thoughts and ideas are welcome from your side is appreciated.
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