In the light of intercultural and multi lingual discussion, I would like to share some very personal insights about my new found international levelling friends. There is no better way to illustrate my insights than the best lessons I learned from them. I could go on all day but I'll try to keep it really short.
Let's start with Debanajanaaa....
If anyone saw me and Deb at the start of the term, noobody would have guessed we would get along beyond being CAN mates. I myself didn't think so. She was very quiet and reserved. I would never say that about her ever again. I think the reason we get along so well is that we are like in a lot of ways. We both are misfits in the cultural norms that we are supposed to be in. Indian girls, from what other Indians are telling me, are as I mentioned above reserved and conservative. Debanjana is a very intelligent and head strong girl who knows a lot about the world. Like her, admittedly I am far from being - and will never be - a dalagang Filipina. A Filipina lady is perceived to be reserved conservative and all that. I am talkative, noisy, and sometimes too open minded for my own good. This trait brought us together but several times it has also triggered a lot of arguments and misunderstandings. Deb and I learn a lot from eachother. I am 100% sure that she will be in my life forever.
My 2nd Victim: Nerdy Boy
If there was a contest on the quickest ways to pick fights over misunderstandings, Nishant and I would win as a duo. I cannot count the times we fought over the silliest things. We have once ended up fighting because he hit me with paper in my face - which is ok in India but not with me.
He once called me dumb, because he thought it was nothing but a playful word, but when I heard it I got an instant high blood pressure and threatened to slap his face if he ever does that again. (I can still smell his panic after I reacted that way to what he said) I, on the other hand, made fun of something very personal to him which was all but a crappy joke to me and probably to the Filipino guys but the next thing I knew I was seeing a murderous look on his face ready to attack anytime soon. The tricky part is the more you get comfortable with each other, the less cautious you are of your words and actions. Again, openness to your differences always manage to fix the mess.
Other than people, if there is one thing which I think should never be labeled and stereotyped is friendship. Nobody should tell you who to mingle and get along with. I don't mean to judge but I see some people being hesitant to open themselves up to other nationalities because of personal reasons. If I may give my opinion, I'd say they are at a sorry loss. If I wasn't blind to these boundaries I wouldn't have known these people who give meaning to my experiences at this point.
It's partly a lucky coincdence that I was born in the era of losers and misfits. Norms are slowly being broken to make way for individuality. I am proud to be different and crazy and weird and all that and I will never change for the sake of being 'normal'. My friends and I will walk around looking like a United Colors of Benetton ad, so what? It'll make us even more popular. Woot!
(A discussion on cultural continuum and Your Mouth your tiger)
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