--- On Wed, 17/9/08, Suresh Ramasubramanian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
From: Suresh Ramasubramanian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [silk] introduction...
To: [email protected]
Date: Wednesday, 17 September, 2008, 5:14 PM
all true, but calcutta and bombay are extreme even by indian standards...
On Wed, September 17, 2008 5:10 pm, ss wrote:
> 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.
Hmmm. I suppose a job as a criminal lawyer
is too bizarre to contemplate?
>>
>
> 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
>
>
--
Suresh Ramasubramanian + suresh <@> hserus dot net
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