I recently met a lady from Canton, China. It is now known as Guangzhou. She said she is 54 years old. Looks like 24. Her physical fitness is like that of a 14 year old gymnast. She is 5 ft tall and says she weighs 106 lbs.
She speaks English but broken English.
She informed me she is a teacher and has two children. (She did not tell me and I did not ask about her husband). She also said she exercises 6 hours a day including walking and cycling.
She was more interested to know about India and the Indians than America and the Americans.
Here are some her questions to me. (I am not giving my answers to her because it is not important, me think)
Do I read bible?
Do I go to church?
Why I am not wearing a head-dress (turban)?
Do I eat at home sitting on the floor and everyone eats from the same plate?
Is it true women wait for men to finish eating before they could eat?
Is it true, if there is no leftover food after men finish eating, women go to bed hungry without eating?
Do I eat with my fingers?
Do I know how to us a chopstick?
Do I speak Hindu language at home?
How do I practice my culture in this country?
Hahaha funny how they think we all live in slums like slumdog Millionaire in India. Many women have asked me how my English is this good.
ReplyDelete-Avada Kedavra
Thanks for your comments Ashwini. I also have been asked that question many times.
DeleteActually the problem is that sometimes people make their opinion without going into details or even trying to know the fact...
ReplyDeleteBTW did you cleared her doubts by answering the questionnaire...?
Thanks for your comments Irfanuddin. And, welcome to my blog. Yes, I did clear her doubts.
DeleteIrfanuddin, please visit here as often as possible. Thanks.
sure, I will...actually I am back to blogging after four long years....hopefully will be around now :)
DeleteIN between she asked about the Chop stick also :) side gap la cycle
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Shilpa. Yes, one question on the side gap.
DeleteHow less people know about India or infect world...
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Vineeta. Sure, there are people who know very less.
DeleteIf I were in your place, I would have just nodded yes to every question, for it would been a sheer waste of time explaining each and everything to her. Or would have asked her to google it and learn more about the countries, and also about the various states, for many countries are so varied, with different cultures, different habits, beliefs and practices.
ReplyDeleteNice interesting read.
I still remember how all North Indians used to think Madrasi means whole of South India.
Thanks for your comments Rama. I would have done the same thing as you wrote. But the place and the situation surrounding my meeting with her prohibited me from that.
DeleteAs a Punjabi/Himachali, I too am guilty of thinking that 'Madras' meant everything south of Delhi. Sorry for that.
DeleteHmmm...I don't see my comment:( Has it gone into 'spam' folder? It happens sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry Sandhya. Can you please rewrite your comments? Thanks.
DeleteThere are misconceptions all over and even in India as Rama Ananth put it. When a Delhi friend asked me whether we Madarasis eat idly dosa for lunch and dinner daily,what to speak of foreigners who have never lived among us.India is still considered a land of snake charmers and rope tricks not to speak of elephants.Somethings are however true like eating with fingers and squatting on ground though Western ways have been adopted in urban areas.Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Mr. KP. Yes, foreigners have different ideas about India.
DeleteSo far as elephants are concerned, the joke is on the people who think India is a land of elephants: their population is dwindling and serious efforts to save elephants are underway.
DeletePerception of India and Indians is so different for foreigners. They think that India is a land of snake-charmers and that everyone wears turbans and fly on magic carpets. Why people in India also believe that we go from one place to another by camels in Rajasthan and that there are sand dunes everywhere. *Rolls Eyes*
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Shilpa. Yes, foreigners perception is very different.
DeleteI am very impressed with her 6-hour exercise schedule. I am now feeling guilty of not implementing even a 20-30 minute exercise schedule. I will start right away.
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
Thanks for your comments Rajesh. 6 hours exercise a day? Not for me.
DeleteStereotypes! But glad she was interested and curious to find out more. Her questions covered a range of topics and how I wished I aged like her!
ReplyDeleteCelebrating 'Women & their work' all April @NamySaysSo Natural Organic Soap Maker
Thanks for your comments Namy. And, welcome to my blog. She was genuinely interested in India.
DeleteNamy, please visit here as often as possible. Thanks.
54 year old with a fitness level of a 14 year old. That's incredible! Needs a strong resolve to get there . Interesting person indeed and quite familiar questions about India. India is so intriguing for many foreigners and it's hard to explain her
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Sujatha. It is difficult to explain about India. So much diversity.
DeleteWhat are you saying? 6 hours of work out... And most of our lifestyles is bad...
ReplyDeleteAlso, I liked this question" "Is it true, if there is no leftover food after men finish eating, women go to bed hungry without eating?" Quite thought provoking!
Thanks for your comments Satya. Long time No see. I am not saying anything. I just wrote what she told me.
Deletehey there nice that she wanted to know about India..After all India has so much in it, to share ...
ReplyDeleteSix Hours Workout!!:\
Obviously a very curious lady. I thought it's usually the Indians who ask such probing questions. Or is that an Asian phenomenon?
ReplyDeleteI have observed that some people who reveal a lot of information about themselves are prone to asking probing questions, with the hope that we would be as revealilng as they are. This lady seems to fall in that bracket.
Notably the lady's questions weren't too personal. Looks like she was trying to confirm some impressions about Indians' social and personal habits.
Thanks for your comments Pradeep. She was curious about India alright.
DeleteI do get some questions like these when I visit the US. I often educate them about our culture and traditions and the changing perspectives. I also find south east Asians very fit and always looking much younger than their age.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Ajeya. You are correct. Chinese people eat rice 3 times a day. But they don't have this big belly.
DeleteI envy that lady for exercising so rigorously..She is an inspiration to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Renu. That lady is an exercise freak.
DeleteIt is not surprising to get such questions about India as India had been described in that way in the pre-independent era. But was surely surprised about the physical fitness of lady!
ReplyDeleteInteresting experience!
Thanks for your comments Sindhu. She was an exercise freak.
DeleteNo wife goes starving if food is available,but some wait for their hubby's leftovers even now. We use the spoon that goes only to our mouth,our hand.At the same time Indians r smart enough to master any art filling the stomach.Ineresting post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarala for your comments. I always say I eat with my own hand and not used by someone else.
Delete