A nice hot slice of humble pie

Brazil, Russia, India, and China, the BRIC countries, are commonly referred to as "emerging markets" or "developing countries".  It may be true that their economies lag some other parts of the world, in some regards, they are light years ahead of everyone. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with many western and European cultures.  Nothing, however, has been more humbling to my character than working with India.  Never before have I met a group of people as kind, compassionate, and accommodating as my colleagues there.  They cling to a cultural definition  that revolves around hospitality and kindness.  Conversely, we "rude Americans" have landed on a definition through material possessions and personal, self-centered experiences.  My visits to India are good for my soul. I always return with a more positive outlook on humanity and a redoubled effort to emulate their values of compassion and kindness.  As the country continues to develop, my wish for India is that they hold these cultural traits close and never lose sight of what's important.