Re: ...Cultural Clash...
Shikra, I agree, its quite hard on your part esp since there's pressure. When we go against their wishes, things set off in the wrong pattern, as in a domino set... Try not to bring it to a point where you have to face them or argue to a point of yes or no. No matter how over protective they are, at the end of the day, they're our paretns...We'll regret it later even if they are wrong... I hope you understand what I'm trying to say here.
About the calling issue...maybe its a guy thing... I mean, I was away from family for five years...and I just had to talk to them every single day! Just couldnt sleep otherwise... My bro, ever since he's moved away, he calls atleast twice a day too.. I think this is because my parents are more like our friends rather than the typical desi ammi abbu k call kyoun nahi ki, kahan bz they....If he doesnt call, my mom calls and leaves a mssg at the end of the day asking if everything is ok...i dont find anything wrong with this...they've spent their lives raising us adn now as we move apart, it isnt so easy on them as they're getting old...for us, its just a phase of life with new adventures, partners, experiences, etc...
Makes sense. Situation here is that THEY don't call me, they expect ME to call them. Mom would sit next to the phone all day and would wait for MY phone call. My argument is that if YOU want to talk to ME, why don't YOU pick up the phone and call ME? Why put all burden on one side? I don't think I am asking for too much.
You are right about parents being friends, then it's a different ball game. If they give me a chance to miss them, perhaps I would call? I don't know if I am the only one like this, but too much love gets annoying.
I would like to mention one thing: A girl PMed me and said that she was surprised/glad to see my thread and she thought only girls have this kind of problems. I just want to say that other than a few exceptions, majority of desis have problems, guys OR girls. It's just that guys tend to keep things within themselves and are hesitant of sharing what's going on inside them, until/unless water is over the head.