I don't make enough rupees ....

I don't know whether anybody else has experienced this, but going shopping in Chennai after having lived in the US is absolutely a scary experience. In a way, its the inverse of what I used to experience in my first few days in the US ....

My very first day in the US, at Raleigh, North Carolina, a guy from my alma mater (BITS, Pilani) took me to lunch - At Subway. I bought a 6" inch sandwich for $5 (or so) and just struggled to convince myself that it was okay to eat something that cost Rs. 250 !

However, quickly I got used to spending in dollars and as I passed the "starving grad student" stage, five dollars soon got to seem like pocket change.

Now, when I am back in India and actually living here (I have my own apartment etc.. unlike previous visits where I just visited and stayed with my parents), I am just shocked by the prices !! Grocery shopping, buy some juice, soda and some corn flakes and its 1,000 rupees !! Now, I am at the other end of the spectrum, back to my stingy Indian best ! I could convert the 1000 rupees to dollars and should be quite unconcerned about the cost, considering that its only 20 dollars, but that doesnt happen !

There is something quite unnerving about forking out Rs. 150 for a bottle of shampoo.

I guess I will get used to it, but until then, I really dont think I make enough rupees !