INDIAN SHARING - Brilliant Example
Well, this one is an outstanding example of cultural differences...
One friend went to US and there his family developed healthy friendship with his neighbors who were native Americans. My friend's family used to send some special dishes to his neighbors as they loved Indian food.
But, there was a problem in continuing this practice as their neighbors never returned the utensils in which food was being sent to their home. My friends' family felt awkward to ask their neighbors to return the utensils.
Then, one day my friend borrowed a screwdriver from his neighbor and when he went to return it. They were like, why are you returning? I have already given this to you. Did you not like this or what? In fact, his neighbor was a bit offended by his act.
Then, my friend's family gradually realized that Americans don't lend or borrow things, either they will not give something or they will give it forever. They don't expect you to return things. Hence, his neighbors never realized that this Indian family was puzzled why their utensils were not getting returned.
(Now those who don't know this custom, let me explain this)
In India, we have a culture to share the occasional delicacies we cook at home with our neighbors. It's like many people in BIHAR (an eastern state of India) don't know how to cook Idlis or Dosas like the people from South. So, whenever, Idlis or Dosas would be cooked at our home then it would be shared with few of our neighbors as my mother knows how to cook it like a native.
And then after some days, our Neighbors will return favor by sending something to us in the utensil in which we have send them Idlis/ Dosas, Chatni, Sambhar, etc. It's an unspoken tradition which I have seen for years although in metro cities, this practice might be rare. Probably due to this practice, as a kid I didn't needed restaurants to please my taste buds.
When I was a Kid we never went to restaurants, we had another way to please our taste-buds
Well, this one is an outstanding example of cultural differences...
One friend went to US and there his family developed healthy friendship with his neighbors who were native Americans. My friend's family used to send some special dishes to his neighbors as they loved Indian food.
But, there was a problem in continuing this practice as their neighbors never returned the utensils in which food was being sent to their home. My friends' family felt awkward to ask their neighbors to return the utensils.
Then, one day my friend borrowed a screwdriver from his neighbor and when he went to return it. They were like, why are you returning? I have already given this to you. Did you not like this or what? In fact, his neighbor was a bit offended by his act.
Then, my friend's family gradually realized that Americans don't lend or borrow things, either they will not give something or they will give it forever. They don't expect you to return things. Hence, his neighbors never realized that this Indian family was puzzled why their utensils were not getting returned.
(Now those who don't know this custom, let me explain this)
In India, we have a culture to share the occasional delicacies we cook at home with our neighbors. It's like many people in BIHAR (an eastern state of India) don't know how to cook Idlis or Dosas like the people from South. So, whenever, Idlis or Dosas would be cooked at our home then it would be shared with few of our neighbors as my mother knows how to cook it like a native.
And then after some days, our Neighbors will return favor by sending something to us in the utensil in which we have send them Idlis/ Dosas, Chatni, Sambhar, etc. It's an unspoken tradition which I have seen for years although in metro cities, this practice might be rare. Probably due to this practice, as a kid I didn't needed restaurants to please my taste buds.
0 comments:
Post a Comment