NetIP Conference 2005
The Network of Indian Professionals (NetIP) is a subscription-based affiliation of (mostly) singles in cities across North America. Every month, these singles meet in hip venues and ‘network’ with other singles, hoping to find 'the one'. This is not what the founders had in mind when they created NetIP: they organize community involvement events, book clubs, professional events - but what sells the most is the monthly mixer.
So when I told my friends that I shall be attending the NetIP North America 2005 National Conference, they were understandably concerned. To squander $300 and my labor day weekend seemed a heavy price to pay for meet singles who weren’t even from Atlanta.
But they were missing the point. A quick glance at the conference agenda and panel attendees told me that there was more substance (meat!) behind the meet. Where else would I meet Indians with the diversity, intellect and success of the panel members? I dissented, and have not been disappointed.
(Updated)
NetIP 2005 was extremely well organized. At the risk of giving a back handed compliment, I’d say it was the best organized desi-event of this scale that I have attended in the US. Sure, there were a few late starts, rude murmuring audiences, bars without water. But these were trifles compared to the professionalism and precision of the overall conference.
A majority of the 700+ attendees were of North Indian descent, about 95% (my estimation) of whom were attending their first such conference. 52% were male, 48% female. Age groups varied from 23 through 39, averaging at 29. Almost everyone was impressive – well educated, successful, driven, articulate and dressed to kill. There were Indians, Indian-Americans and quasi-Indian-Americans (e.g. Uzbek-Indian, Canadian-Indian, Japanese-Indian, British-Indian).
The women - sporting the latest fashion from Devon Street to Chandni Chowk to Fifth Avenue - were always more impressively dressed than the men, who could be seen in t-shirts, shorts, chappals, unshaved at times. Most women in their 30s were PhDs, doctors, or successful professionals - a fact consistent with my previous dating experiences! And like any gathering of Indians, there was a profusion of long, straight, immaculately maintained hair.
A majority of the attendees seemed to be American Born or American Raised. This ABAR undertone permeated throughout the conference, the panels topics, the discussions. There were FOB jokes, tales of growing-up-desi-in-the-US, maintaining desi culture in the second generation, and Indians (i.e. American citizens) in the electorate.
Why the bias? General NetIP membership is a mixed-bag - the mix of FOBs and ABARs is representative of the city's overall population (atleast in the Pittsburgh and Altanta chapters). For some reason (maybe self-selection), more ABARs showed up for this event than FOBs.
It's not that there is a dearth of FOB topics for discussion: the challenges of rapid cultural assimilation, the pull of the motherland in light of its recent economic success, a how-to on raising children with little grandparental influence (a rarity for most who grew up in India). A controvertial one: who's got it easier - ABARs bearing the lofty expectations of their successful parents or FOBs trying to prove themselves with limited employment opportunities (h1b jobs only), parental support (economic, emotional at times) or existing social network (unless all one's friends move to the US)?
So when I told my friends that I shall be attending the NetIP North America 2005 National Conference, they were understandably concerned. To squander $300 and my labor day weekend seemed a heavy price to pay for meet singles who weren’t even from Atlanta.
But they were missing the point. A quick glance at the conference agenda and panel attendees told me that there was more substance (meat!) behind the meet. Where else would I meet Indians with the diversity, intellect and success of the panel members? I dissented, and have not been disappointed.
(Updated)
NetIP 2005 was extremely well organized. At the risk of giving a back handed compliment, I’d say it was the best organized desi-event of this scale that I have attended in the US. Sure, there were a few late starts, rude murmuring audiences, bars without water. But these were trifles compared to the professionalism and precision of the overall conference.
A majority of the 700+ attendees were of North Indian descent, about 95% (my estimation) of whom were attending their first such conference. 52% were male, 48% female. Age groups varied from 23 through 39, averaging at 29. Almost everyone was impressive – well educated, successful, driven, articulate and dressed to kill. There were Indians, Indian-Americans and quasi-Indian-Americans (e.g. Uzbek-Indian, Canadian-Indian, Japanese-Indian, British-Indian).
The women - sporting the latest fashion from Devon Street to Chandni Chowk to Fifth Avenue - were always more impressively dressed than the men, who could be seen in t-shirts, shorts, chappals, unshaved at times. Most women in their 30s were PhDs, doctors, or successful professionals - a fact consistent with my previous dating experiences! And like any gathering of Indians, there was a profusion of long, straight, immaculately maintained hair.
A majority of the attendees seemed to be American Born or American Raised. This ABAR undertone permeated throughout the conference, the panels topics, the discussions. There were FOB jokes, tales of growing-up-desi-in-the-US, maintaining desi culture in the second generation, and Indians (i.e. American citizens) in the electorate.
Why the bias? General NetIP membership is a mixed-bag - the mix of FOBs and ABARs is representative of the city's overall population (atleast in the Pittsburgh and Altanta chapters). For some reason (maybe self-selection), more ABARs showed up for this event than FOBs.
It's not that there is a dearth of FOB topics for discussion: the challenges of rapid cultural assimilation, the pull of the motherland in light of its recent economic success, a how-to on raising children with little grandparental influence (a rarity for most who grew up in India). A controvertial one: who's got it easier - ABARs bearing the lofty expectations of their successful parents or FOBs trying to prove themselves with limited employment opportunities (h1b jobs only), parental support (economic, emotional at times) or existing social network (unless all one's friends move to the US)?
I wasn't sure what to expect from the Netip Conference so I did a search and found this. Interesting comments and very funny observation about FOBs and ABCDs. Thanks
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9:56 AM EDT ·