Culture

Being an Indian and living in India, i rarely realized the depth of our culture and art. Living here now, away from home, i realize how the world is influenced and captured by the beauty of India. People here know more about our culture than at times i do, they read up, ask questions and really show interest in knowing about everything that goes on in our country and lives. Family, weddings, temples, rituals and everything that is non existent in their so called developed nations.
In the last 6 months, i have come across so many individuals who have visited India at least once or dream about visiting it one day when they get the chance. Last week i was introduced to a couple who have been there 3 times already and hope to go there the next time they save enough money. People ask me questions, not just out of curiosity, but out of genuine interest and an urge to learn about everything they can about this exotic country of ours. They learn yoga here in France, know about pranayam and all the forms of art and dance.
How are weddings conducted, what are the different rituals, how are families knit together and what are our customs. The festivals, the temples, the prayers and the people, name it and they have questions on it, sometimes intelligent and sometimes utterly stupid. What does Indian cuisine consist of, what are the daily meals like, the spices, the rice. They are sporting enough to try out different dishes i cook, even if they leave the table sweating and unable to digest the spices.
I feel glad that i came here, not just as an English assistant, but also as a representative of my country to teach the people about my life and culture. Today talking to a class of 8 year old's in school, i asked them if they had enjoyed learning English with me in the last 6 months. They all said yes, English was fun, but what they most talked about and remembered were all the videos, photographs and talks we had in the past on India and us. They each said they wanted to come visit me in my country some day and said they were really glad to learn about people they never thought were like them. I see a change in their attitude from the first day i met them and now. Their ideas that Indians live on tree's and travel on elephants are now completely washed out. They now know we are just like them, living in houses, having cars and even Mc Donalds ! I feel proud to say they can say their names in Hindi after a gentle joining of hands and saying Namaste. This is what is important in today's world, an integration of cultures and two different worlds. People to realize they are no better or worse, but that all are equal no matter where their worlds.