Hey, guys! So, guess what? I only have 9 weeks left in India. Can you believe it? The thought feels me with joy and sadness. Joy because I get to return home and see all my loved ones, sadness because in 9 weeks time I will have to leave behind all my loved ones here. :( I guess that's life though. Coming and going, gaining and losing. What is a girl to do? Anyway, I looked at my post and my youtube video (http://youtu.be/XPtYm2xrF48) and I noticed that I have been doing a lot of talking about my experiences in India, but I have yet to just lay out some plain facts about this culture vs. American culture. I'll be posting a video on this as well. I just want you guys to remember that my experience in India could be totally different from someone else's experience. I'm in South India whose culture is very different than North India. In fact it could be argued that each state has its own unique culture and so just remember that this list is only applicable to the state I am in, Kerala. Okay....
1) African vs. American
So, I actually mentioned this in a blot post before, but I think it deserves to be mentioned again. If you are an African American traveling to India (or a person of African descent from any country) everyone will automatically assume that you are African. They won't ask, "Where are you from?" Instead they will tell you that you are from Africa. In their minds if your are white your American and if your black your African. Apparently (according to some people I have met here) black people don't live in America, only white people. I guess the Atlantic Slave Trade and Obama never happened, but whatever.
2)Kinky Curly Hair
To put it simply, to anyone of African descent, if you come to India and your hair is natural, people are going to eye it like its the last steak at dinner. Some will even ask to touch it. This didn't bother me so much, but I did get tired of trying to explain my hair after a while. I have found that a lot of people here actually like it, but there are a few stereotypes about black hair that you may encounter. Examples, below:
-"Does it grow? It can't grow right?" Yes, African hair grows. Why wouldn't it?
- "You can't comb it." Yes, yes, I can.
-"Water makes it shrivel up." Water causes shrinkage, our hair doesn't die!
3) The Exotic Female
If you are a foreign female traveling in India expect to get hit on a lot. The same way we look at India as this exotic fascinating place is the same way the men here look at foreign females. Also, there area lot of stereotypes about females from the West. They think we all drink, smoke, do drugs and sleep with any and everyone. Most of the men that hit on you will do so thinking that you will let them do the do just because they flashed you a friendly smile. Ugh!
4) Leering vs. Staring
There is a big difference between checking someone out and looking at them like you're ready to make a move. In the States I have seen guys checking me or my friends out. Sometimes they may stare for a little too long and it will become awkward. Other times they'll do a quick glance and move on. Here in India, men will do neither of those. No, they prefer to leer which means stare at you like they have malicious intentions. Obviously, in a place like India where rates of violence against women break the roof, this is too common a reality. In this situation the best thing to do is just stare them down to let them kn ow you are not scared. If you look away meekly, they may take it as a sign that you are weak and label you as easy prey. Stand your ground, ladies and always travel with a buddy( for India a male friend would be best).
5)Schooling
You know how professors in the US respect you as an adult? Well, don't expect that in India. In their eyes I am still a child and so they treat me as such which is why students stay in the same class room every day while professors switch. Don't want us getting too excited walking down the hall. Also, in terms of work load, from my experience I get a much heavier load at my college in the US. Here there are a few assignments every now and again. Here they also live in hostels instead of dorms.
6)Pronunciation
Botany is pronounced like" boatany." Why is pronounced "v-why." Adult is pronounced "add-delt."
7)Farewells
In the US we say goodbye. Here they say ta-ta. A little British influence, I suppose.
So, those are just a few quirky thins about India. Hope you all enjoyed. As always don't hesitate to leave a comment, question or suggestion. Until next time, ta-ta!
1) African vs. American
So, I actually mentioned this in a blot post before, but I think it deserves to be mentioned again. If you are an African American traveling to India (or a person of African descent from any country) everyone will automatically assume that you are African. They won't ask, "Where are you from?" Instead they will tell you that you are from Africa. In their minds if your are white your American and if your black your African. Apparently (according to some people I have met here) black people don't live in America, only white people. I guess the Atlantic Slave Trade and Obama never happened, but whatever.
2)Kinky Curly Hair
To put it simply, to anyone of African descent, if you come to India and your hair is natural, people are going to eye it like its the last steak at dinner. Some will even ask to touch it. This didn't bother me so much, but I did get tired of trying to explain my hair after a while. I have found that a lot of people here actually like it, but there are a few stereotypes about black hair that you may encounter. Examples, below:
-"Does it grow? It can't grow right?" Yes, African hair grows. Why wouldn't it?
- "You can't comb it." Yes, yes, I can.
-"Water makes it shrivel up." Water causes shrinkage, our hair doesn't die!
3) The Exotic Female
If you are a foreign female traveling in India expect to get hit on a lot. The same way we look at India as this exotic fascinating place is the same way the men here look at foreign females. Also, there area lot of stereotypes about females from the West. They think we all drink, smoke, do drugs and sleep with any and everyone. Most of the men that hit on you will do so thinking that you will let them do the do just because they flashed you a friendly smile. Ugh!
4) Leering vs. Staring
There is a big difference between checking someone out and looking at them like you're ready to make a move. In the States I have seen guys checking me or my friends out. Sometimes they may stare for a little too long and it will become awkward. Other times they'll do a quick glance and move on. Here in India, men will do neither of those. No, they prefer to leer which means stare at you like they have malicious intentions. Obviously, in a place like India where rates of violence against women break the roof, this is too common a reality. In this situation the best thing to do is just stare them down to let them kn ow you are not scared. If you look away meekly, they may take it as a sign that you are weak and label you as easy prey. Stand your ground, ladies and always travel with a buddy( for India a male friend would be best).
5)Schooling
You know how professors in the US respect you as an adult? Well, don't expect that in India. In their eyes I am still a child and so they treat me as such which is why students stay in the same class room every day while professors switch. Don't want us getting too excited walking down the hall. Also, in terms of work load, from my experience I get a much heavier load at my college in the US. Here there are a few assignments every now and again. Here they also live in hostels instead of dorms.
6)Pronunciation
Botany is pronounced like" boatany." Why is pronounced "v-why." Adult is pronounced "add-delt."
7)Farewells
In the US we say goodbye. Here they say ta-ta. A little British influence, I suppose.
So, those are just a few quirky thins about India. Hope you all enjoyed. As always don't hesitate to leave a comment, question or suggestion. Until next time, ta-ta!
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