tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25171037.post5854618116784158840..comments2024-03-29T12:44:53.928+05:30Comments on gappa: Depends from where you look.....Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25171037.post-45963163427603279372011-06-13T12:33:19.837+05:302011-06-13T12:33:19.837+05:30I didn't realize that the west too was class c...I didn't realize that the west too was class conscious. I mean where a butcher, barber and baker don't feel that their job is in any way less important than that of a college professor why would it have mattered if you had been a plumber's wife? May be professors are more respected that's all. Or is it?Hip Grandmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16891699611146003601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25171037.post-14495719641027447982011-06-11T21:38:53.415+05:302011-06-11T21:38:53.415+05:30Interestingly when I was travelling to Caribbean i...Interestingly when I was travelling to Caribbean islands, a local friend accompanying is asked a person of Indian origin [also a local settler] whether Indian people look down upon them. And he said 'Yes', much to my discomfort!<br /><br />VivekVivek S Patwardhanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07228917496761427150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25171037.post-89364864373072795152011-06-11T12:07:55.253+05:302011-06-11T12:07:55.253+05:30Delightful account. Lovely experiences.
The accou...Delightful account. Lovely experiences.<br /><br />The account of the German man wondering about your residence status shows an inherrent fear of being overrun by 'less educated' immigrants who might or might not bring in a certain kind of problems, not very different from the fear (though considerably less) of Bangladeshi (often illegal) immigrants to India.<br /><br />As for 'expats' and 'immigrants' differentiation, I think it's got to do with the numbers involved, of the majority or near majority of folks going to the US of A ending up staying back or wanting to stay back in the USA. And many would not expect the same of foreigners travelling to work in India.<br /><br />More than class, though class too is an issue, if of the inherrent fear of the supposed 'underclass' around issues revolving around crime, and 'harm' one might be open to, and in some cases not without some basis. Fear drives many things. Fear of being overwhelmed, of being harmed, of being displaced among other things.Anil Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02422187314611747278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25171037.post-3474245531954663482011-06-08T14:27:37.646+05:302011-06-08T14:27:37.646+05:30It does not bother me either about immigrant and e...It does not bother me either about immigrant and expat.. <br />For I have tried that when i wanted to go back and stayed for some time back home <br />I know this will sound horrible but somehow I was made to feel that i dont belong back home now since i chose to come abroad .. <br /><br />and Here in uk I have never ever felt or been shown that i not wanted, Rather most of hte INDIANS here are more like who am i why am i , etc etc .. <br /><br />Pardon me for saying but this expat and immigrant is more in our Indian mentality , maybe other has experienced otherwise not me , I have had a lovely life here so far and i am happy .. <br /><br />I do get the occasional how cum you speak english etc. other then that never and moreover this country gave me everything I am what i am because i came here friends, house, honour, respect and all and this is Far more than what i got in india.. for a change I would never have been able ot buy my own 3-4 bedroom house on a proper salary .. <br /><br />The people who said otherwise to me are the same ones who ring now ot help there son or sibling etc to come abroad... <br /><br />excellent post <br /><a href="http://mannbikram.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">Bikram's</a>Bikramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17320753339263375295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25171037.post-49901321718633819222011-06-08T09:18:23.009+05:302011-06-08T09:18:23.009+05:30Lovely post as usual :) I think I can keep this as...Lovely post as usual :) I think I can keep this as the first line to every post of yours..<br /><br />My dad is a slightly darkish guy, not very tall and often is mistaken for a professor (He is one now :))<br /><br />This happened when he had gone to the US for the first time when I was about 4 years or something..<br /><br />The security guys at the New York airport looked at him and asked him as if he was a kid saying 'Do you speak Eeengglish?'very loudly attracting a lot of attention so much that people around stopped doing what they were and stared at dad and the security fellow<br /><br />my dad looked at him for a second straight into his eyes and said 'Probably better than you'<br /><br />and the entire place was shocked and stunned at this...and dad just picked up his bag and walked away!R's Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05252099630701664622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25171037.post-62720617516350624752011-06-08T03:39:04.338+05:302011-06-08T03:39:04.338+05:30Loved your post, Suranga!!! This is what struck me...Loved your post, Suranga!!! This is what struck me the most: #An average westerner , sometimes even in proper towns, is not very well informed on non western countries. By contrast I find that folks even in small towns in India keep themselves well informed on worldly things. #<br /><br />Thank you for linking back to my post.<br /><br />I find it very strange and true all the same. Some 'highly educated' people have no clue as to what the world outside their state/country is. They live in an image that they/their ancestors have conjured up 100 years ago. In contrast, poor 'uneducated' folks keep abreast of world affairs, and know what is going on seven seas away!<br /><br />Obviously, 'English' language is no indication of a person's education or sophistication.<br /><br />As for the 'class consciousness', I completely agree. It would have been interesting to find out how the guy would have reacted had you been 'an asylum-seeking family'.<br /><br />And yes, in India, what counts most is being 'fair, slim, and beautiful/handsome'. After that comes money and class. You know sometimes I think the western world is more tolerable.<br /><br />Atleast they give some place of pride to how educated one is, rather than how fair one looks!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25171037.post-38416845283584282802011-06-08T02:47:11.312+05:302011-06-08T02:47:11.312+05:30That was so very interesting, and your observation...That was so very interesting, and your observations are so apt. We have the same inquisitiveness that someone abroad might have, especially when it comes to the unknown. I was going to say that we( as in Indians) might be less condescending, but then realized that even that is not true. There are plenty of people who believe in our superiority over other races/countries. <br /><br />And the class thing you mentioned - that is so true. You can sometimes see people reassessing their opinion of us when they know what we do :)<br /><br />Loved, loved this post :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25171037.post-28669496372741784182011-06-07T21:15:33.007+05:302011-06-07T21:15:33.007+05:30What a very interesting post. I thoroughly enjoyed...What a very interesting post. I thoroughly enjoyed it.<br />— K<br /><br />Kay, Alberta, Canada<br />An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous TravelKay L. Davieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09966266404058177742noreply@blogger.com