For those of you that don't already know, "ABCD" stands for "American-born, confused Desi"
...and that perfectly describes me.
I've noticed that people tend to think of India in extremes-- either in terms of extreme poverty or elaborate culture. And a lot of these judgments are based on what we see superficially in Bollywood movies or hear second-hand from friends that make frequent trips to India.
And right now, India is trendy. You might know India for its colorful clothing, elaborate jewelry, spicy food, vibrant culture etc. Maybe you have Indian friends who have tight-knit, large families. Some other key buzzwords when you think of India: Taj Mahal, Gandhi, temples/Hinduism, cows, curry. And don't even get me started on Slumdog Millionaire.
My goal is to provide you with a unique perspective. Something different from what your "true Indian" friends have to say, and something different from the way the media portrays India.
I belong neither to India nor to America. Americans look at the color of my skin, hear my name and label me as "Indian." Indians hear my accent, notice my inability to speak any Indian language and label me as "American." I consider myself to be third generation --a rare breed-- because although my parents were both born in India, they were raised in the US. As a result, my brother and I have turned out to be "very American" in the eyes of the Indian community.
Although my family is doing quite a bit of sight-seeing, this trip is about so much more than pretty views and impressive monuments.
I want answers.
A better understanding of where my family comes from, why Indian families are so different from American families, a truer sense of what India is like... not based on the over-glorified stories from patriotic friends/family, or the tear-wrenching commercials about poverty that you see on TV.
And I hope my personal discoveries can provide you with some new insights as well.
Stay tuned for reflections about my time in New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Mumbai and Manipal! Happy holidays, everyone!
*Note: I have been to India twice: Once when I was really young, and when I was 8. However, I barely remember what India was like from those two visits, so I consider this trip my "first real" trip to India. Both trips were great, I was just too young to remember India properly. My parents wanted me to clear this up.
...and that perfectly describes me.
I've noticed that people tend to think of India in extremes-- either in terms of extreme poverty or elaborate culture. And a lot of these judgments are based on what we see superficially in Bollywood movies or hear second-hand from friends that make frequent trips to India.
And right now, India is trendy. You might know India for its colorful clothing, elaborate jewelry, spicy food, vibrant culture etc. Maybe you have Indian friends who have tight-knit, large families. Some other key buzzwords when you think of India: Taj Mahal, Gandhi, temples/Hinduism, cows, curry. And don't even get me started on Slumdog Millionaire.
My goal is to provide you with a unique perspective. Something different from what your "true Indian" friends have to say, and something different from the way the media portrays India.
I belong neither to India nor to America. Americans look at the color of my skin, hear my name and label me as "Indian." Indians hear my accent, notice my inability to speak any Indian language and label me as "American." I consider myself to be third generation --a rare breed-- because although my parents were both born in India, they were raised in the US. As a result, my brother and I have turned out to be "very American" in the eyes of the Indian community.
Although my family is doing quite a bit of sight-seeing, this trip is about so much more than pretty views and impressive monuments.
I want answers.
A better understanding of where my family comes from, why Indian families are so different from American families, a truer sense of what India is like... not based on the over-glorified stories from patriotic friends/family, or the tear-wrenching commercials about poverty that you see on TV.
And I hope my personal discoveries can provide you with some new insights as well.
Stay tuned for reflections about my time in New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Mumbai and Manipal! Happy holidays, everyone!
.JPG) |
| My mom (left) and I (right) about to explore New Delhi for the first time |
Wishing you all the best on this trip!! Thanks for taking the time to share your perspective! :]
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