Source: http://www.navhindtimes.com/cybervoices/messages/908.htm
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The Goan People: Unfriendly?
Posted on January 27, 2004 at 03:51:19:
I have been a visitor to Goa ( mainly Colva )for the past nine years, visiting two and sometimes three times a year, ( the weather is so good ), and what friendly people the Goans are, (mostly during business transactions , of course), since Tourism is a major contribution to the Indian economy.
During this time , I have met many many Goans as well as all sorts of other nationalities, but sadly I have never met a Goan who I could in all Honesty call a 'Friend', We meet purely on a 'business' level.
I have tried living in rented appartments, in order to try to be 'part of the local culture', but no, no this does not work either, one might as well be in a Hotel, and 'cut off ' from the reality around.
I have tried inviting them to dinner at home, ( they accept the invitation, but do not turn up, or bother to contact to say please don't bother cooking for us ).
Please believe, I am just an ordinary Human Being with enough courtesy to invite people to my home, or to be invited to theirs, ( which has never ever happened in Goa),
Even though I have been treated with the greatest welcome and courtesy into some of the poorest, and wealthiest of homes in Arab countries, such as Morroco, Tunisia, and Egypt.
This makes one wonder what the psyche of the Goan really is ! They profess to be 'Catholic', but the behaviour dispels that myth . Catholicism, ( to the uneducated ), means 'Universal'
In short, The Goan welcomes the stranger from far off lands, so long as his pockets are filled with' Big Bucks', and he is ready to spend , spend, spend.
In fact I have even had Restaurant owners putting the heavy hammer on me to help restock , and after being helped, they simply ask for 'more'.
Though I still like the place, This next will be my last trip to Goa!
I have enjoyed the sunshine, the sea, the sand, the blue skies, and smiling faces of people who really are 'friendly' , but who one could never call 'friends',
To sum-up, the Goan is 'friendly', but 'Anti-social' to the 'foreigner'.
Incidentally, I am a Britisher, perhaps it has something to do with it.
Robert L Drain Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Dear Mr. Drain,
I find your experience extremely unique.
Most foreigners find Goans extremely friendly people. Perhaps you have been meeting all the wrong people. But that is rather improbable considering you have been coming to Goa for nine years.
If you could send me specific detailed descriptions of your unfriendly encounters with Goans I could maybe analyse what went wrong, and why, in each case. Please understand that I will analyse each case on a public forum (such as the GoaNet Discussion Group) so that all of us can benefit from the discussion and there can be a lot of interaction.
Cecil Pinto Amateur E-mail Psycho-Analyst
P.S.
Why do you mention your being a Britisher, as being perhaps the reason for this unfriendliness among Goans? Do you have some prejudices about the British?
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