I was reading a list on Forbes magazine that was talking about the highest paid careers for 2016. Now I like to read that list hoping to find my chosen field in there and then crying because it is never listed. Amidst the orthodentists, anesthesiologist, a zillion other kind of doctors, software engineers, construction specialists, financial managers, I can see so much money, enough to make Uncle Scrooge blush scarlet. So, I started thinking (Yes, that does happen) about the rest of the careers. IF I was the supreme finance guru of the universe, and I had to pick 10 professions that really, really need a raise right now, these would be my pick.
- Teachers : These would be the first set of people to get a nice fat raise. Teachers have a huge responsibility on their shoulders to shape up the little humans into the kind of large humans they would turn into. I have had some amazing teachers and some absolutely pitiful ones. My dad had a Maths teacher in his middle school who he swears was Prof. Snape without the redeeming quality of ‘Always’ in him. He loathed my dad and probably turned on the Math-phobia in him. They deserve so much more so that there is motivation and inspiration to undertake this massive responsibility.
- Farmers : After the issues I have had with my puny tomato plant, I have so much more respect for farmers who deal with a crop that is a million times the size of my plant with exponentially more problems. Everybody is aware of the pitiful state of farmers in India. The only political party who actually gives a sh*t at any point of time for them, is the party in opposition at that given time. Nobody cares.
- Construction workers : These guys are living, real life Spidermen/Spidermans(?). Have you seen them dangling off the high risers in New York City? Have you seen them perched on top of a bamboo stick on the 21st floor of a building in Mumbai? Did you hear of the news where 9 workers got crushed under a falling slab where they were working without any gear? Some of the most used and abused bunch of workers are in construction. I will also throw in some sunscreen for those long hours in the sun. Cancer is a real b*tch.
- Nurses : These ladies and gents are the people who do the dirty work after la-di-dah doctors give their diagnosis and swish away to get into the list that Forbes compiles. The nurses are the ones who end up saving lives a LOT of times. They clean you, change you, help you with pee and poop too without being related to you in any way!
- Housemaids/cleaners/helpers : Do you even realize how hard it is to clean up such disgusting, filthy homes? From what I hear, I specially pity the lady who cleans the home of a friend in India. Also, the gossip session warrants a nice bonus. It is important to have them keep our secrets, right? I am sure that isn’t blackmail.
- Dog care givers : Actually this is just to warm the cockles of my heart which otherwise is a dark cold lump of coal. Any person who works even remotely with dogs deserves a raise, a bonus, and more goodies. Y’all are my favorite bunch of people! Like, ever!
- Hairstylists/mani-pedicurists : I did not particularly think of this until I read some horror stories that a few beauty stylists re-counted in some online forum. Millimeters of fungus under nails, cruds and cysts on scalp, LICE! I was THIS close to throwing up! You have my salute.
- Personal shoppers/fitters : This is specially for the br@ fitters working at lingerie stores. Most women who go to such specialty store are in general good hygiene coming from the upper section of the society, but there are many, many exceptions. You touch other women’s possibly non-showered b**bs and butts and help a lot of them zip up into dresses 2 sizes smaller(for after the Kellog’s diet) while complimenting them. That gets you the raise I am offering.
- Passport/License photographers : This is for purely selfish reasons that hopefully in my next batch of pictures, I won’t look like a round bagel with plops of cream cheese and blueberries for eyes, nose and mouth. Ugh.
- Car washers : Again, very selfish. But hopefully the raise will prevent them from taking away all the cash and change in my car. I am looking at you ‘All Hands’!
Docs, nurses, farmers, teachers and I’d even say commercial s*x works rights need to be recognized. I have immense respect for all profession and such a sad sight that farmers are exploited at every end. Teachers do a lot, though few black sheep such as the ones who made me hate Maths where I flunked…ha
LikeLike
Well, talking about rights is a whole another story. All professions deserve respect. Also to be honest, ‘Dignity of labour’ is something that I learned after moving out of India.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“I specially pity the lady who cleans the home of a friend in India”. You did not hear this from me. Sshh.
LikeLike
Ssshhhhh… 😀
LikeLike
That’s quite a thoughtful list, but aren’t nurses among some of the best paid professionals (at least outside Asia)?
And the way your post title (almost) compared Oprah to God really made me think about that fact deeply.
LikeLike
Eh, I didn’t know that! I think I thought about Indian nurses, and some who work in UAE and all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nope I don’t think so other than in uk they are paid peanuts.. which is a shame because a nurse works more than a surgeon .. I do hope the govt does something. .
LikeLike
Aah okk. So I wasn’t entirely wrong. No wonder they have to go on strikes quite often to demand basic rights. (Cue:Scrubs and Grey’s Anatomy)
LikeLike
True. It is sad tha people like nurses. Police officers army guys who work so hard get so less. . While one smart arse gets truck full.. 😀😀
LikeLike
Yep.
LikeLike
Well I would readily go back to my village .. frankly I was so very happy there .. All. This studying and working and cominh ti uk has actually made me sad..
I was much happier tilling my land and working my butt off during harvest seasons. ..
LikeLike
That’s not good ya. Do what makes you happy. I am happy here in US and now it feels like another home.
LikeLike
Yeah I know what you saying. . But now here mortgage bills car loans.. blah blah. . 😀😀 just need to work Al that off and then one day god willing will go back..
They say you never forget how to till land once you learn it.. so if I fail here always got something to fall back on..
😀
LikeLike
I don’t feel upset because this place gives me employment and a capacity to stretch my paycheck in the best way possible. I get more bang for my buck for me, parents and home. My salary and loans would have been not this nice in India with the way my industry works. Lol
LikeLike
Yeah that I agree with you totally
. If I was back in punjab I would probably never have been able to afford a Lexus. . Or buy my own house..from my own money.
Probably lived in the house that my granddad built..
So you are right this country has provided me with a lot.of things. . This I agree totally..😀😀
LikeLike
Lexus! Waah. I have a Hyundai Elantra. I picked it cuz of the blue LED interior lights. 😄 Prettier car in my budget.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh I got blue led interior tooo..
Yes because for 14 years I got cheap cars 500 pound or 1000 pound ones.. but you only live once.. I don’t know what I was saving all the money in the bank for. . So went and spent it all.. He he he he he
LikeLike
Good job! YOLO!
This is my very first car, from when I got my first and current main job.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice list. But I don’t agree with the first one at all. You have no idea how much the government school teachers in the south are getting paid and they absolutely do very little for the less fortunate who are so eager to study. If I could I’d actually lessen their paycheck. But yes I’m definitely with the nurses, construction workers municipal workers who do so much and all their efforts go unrecognized. 😦
LikeLike
Oh I didn’t know about South Indian teachers. But I feel there are bad apples in every profession. I am talking about the more general population from what I have seen and who have inspired me.
LikeLike