On Wednesday 17 Sep 2008 10:51:35 am Stephanie Whiting wrote: > Right now I am working on finishing my bachelors degree in > Criminal Justice, with no idea what to do with it.
Welcome to Silk. There's always a culture shock when you move out from India or into India from elsewhere. I have often advised young Indians how it feels when they go out, but I have never done that to someone coming to live in India for the first time. I believe the thing to do is to undertstand that India, unlike the US, is full of social strata. For you I am guessing that this means that there wil be a group of English speaking Indians who speak and dress like you, whom you are most likely to meet and socialize with. This is likely to be your husband's social stratum - probably at or near the top of the heap as strata go in India. But there will also be many others who essentially belong to social strata that they consider "lower" than yours (even if your mind does not work that way and you do not see them that way) They will want to do things for you - such as carry bags, run errands, open doors, cook, clean etc. It is likely that you will look at this latter group and worry about what you see as their poverty. India always finds people to act as guards at gates to open and close gates, supermarket boys who will carry bags to your car; a woman who will sweep and clean your home, and someone who will iron your clothes for you. You won't lose an arm and a leg paying for them. Its the stratification of society that is most puzzling to someone unfamiliar with India I guess, and the scenes of poverty the most shocking. By nature Indians tend not to hide or be embarrassed about either poverty or ugliness. These things are considered an essential part of being. I'm not defeinding either, but I can't do a lot to change it myself. And finally, India is a hot, humid country and that means molecules of volatile organic matter are always in the air - so there will be plenty of new odors that you never knew existed. The think to do is to accept theings as they are and not try to question or fight things that appear strange. India will sink into you gradually. Having shot my mouth off = perhaps some of the others on silf who came to india for the first time to stay may be able to give you a better idea. shiv
