Monday, March 17, 2008

If You are Filthy Rich, what will you do?

John asked this question to everybody during a group lunch. He asked the same question during a trip to India and everybody gave him the same answer, and he wanted to compare the answers.

  • Y: I take some time off and travel around the world. There are many places that I haven't visited and I want to go.
  • Z: I will retire and live in an island. (We asked what kind of island. He said an island with beautiful views and beautiful girls.)
  • B: I will open a homeless shelter and help the needy people.
  • J: I will open a research center and help small companies to be successful.
  • U: I will go back to school and study business. (Everybody asked why do you have to study business for, you are already rich!)
  • My answer was: I will keep on working in the high tech industry. I may retire in ten years, but not now. I may take some risky jobs if I'm rich.

We spent several minutes guessing what the answer from our India colleagues is. Finally U said that helping the poor (U is from India).

Even this simple question reveal the culture and social difference between the US and India. In India, there are so many poor people around the middle class people. They still need help. I'm so proud and moved that every one of our colleagues have the tender heart to help the underprivileged.

What will you do when you have enough money to last a lifetime?

1 comment:

Yang said...

I will sponsor Chinese artists overseas so they have a voice in the mainstream culture. I will help Chinese mainlanders immigrate to less populated countries.