These kind of CultureShock lists are all over the net, but I felt inspired to write my own this morning, for I'm in a fairly grouchy mood. Bear with me, and no I really do like it here, just not after a bad night's sleep. On the bright side, I was originally going to put five, but I could only think of three.
1) The Head Wobble
Yes, I know it's meant to convey assent. I know it means "I gotcha mate", "You're right" and generally "I am in complete concordance with your statement/explanation/wishes". That doesn't stop it like looking like a shake of the head out of the corner of my eye. So if I'm explaining something to someone, and they wobble, it feels like they're telling me "You're as wrong as the 30th of February". I get an urge to turn around and say "What? What don't you get?"
2) When Their Phone Rings
When someone's phone rings in both Europe and North America, especially in social situations, people tend to jump and try to answer it as fast as possible, to minimise the bleating of their not-very-often-polyphonic ring tone. Indians however will let the ringing swell before they become aware of the phone ringing. They'll get it out of their pocket/bag in no particular hurry, and then look at it a full, calm five seconds before answering it. They're evaluating who it is and whether they should answer, I get it, but dude, the whole centre meeting doesn't need to hear your tinny "Fuer Elise".
3) They Pathologically Can't Say No
I've been to three Sari shops now, two in Hyderabad and one in Varanasi, and the first thing I ask for is something in a dark blue silk. They bring me some pretty light blues, and I request darker. "Royal Blue, Navy Blue, Midnight Blue" I say. They smile, wobble and come back with shades in pale blue to turquoise. Occasionally periwinkle. "No,” I say, thinking it's a communication thing, "darker. Like night sky." More wobbles and azures. I look up the Hindi word for darker, for night, for navy even, and try to convey the shade I'm looking for. I feel like the perfect dumb tourist. Finally some nice customer next to me leans over and explains in broken English that they don't have Navy blue, the colour's not popular here. "Why don't they just say so, instead of saying "One minute Ma'am"?" I bleat. She smiles and wobbles.
"They just don't want to disappoint you.”
UPDATE: I just found this tidbit while copy-editing a training manual
Learn to Say “No”- Prioritise activities and say no to unimportant things.
See, even employers realise they have a problem with this. I am not crazy! Yay!
Cheers, Gitte
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4 comments:
Hej skat,
endeligt har du inkluderet din far i din blog.
Et par spørgsmål:
1) Hvad står cashpor for? Betyder det noget?
2) Får du taget nogle ordentlige bilder?
3) Hvad laver du om aftenen? Har du mulighed for at mødes med andre unge mennesker?
4)Hvad for nogle folk bor du hos Hvad er deres baggrund?
5)Hvad får du at spise?
Kommentar tl din gribes:
Det værste er at de lover at gøre et eller andet og så glemmer det.
Knus
Far.
PS Vi sejler her til morgen til St. Petersburg
Hello, good to hear you're enjoying yourself! Just discovered the blog, I returned a few days ago from spending a week in Paris, it was lovely. Now it's back to interning.
I love that you're annoyed with the head wobble when your name is Smile and Nod. Hehehe.
*wobble wobble wobble*
Gitte, you´re too cute! Glad you´re enjoying yourself despite all the wobbles and yesmen errrr is the term now yespeople, :P Take care X
Well now I am caught up...
In fact I'm surprised that a lack of a tan is even a concern given where you are and what you're doing. Sun you can find almost everywhere whereas those annoying culture shocks and immersing yourself in the world of sustainability... the only conclusion I can make is that it's not hot enough to sway you from the endeavour :P
Also, I must say - what to show 'em how it's done and that the right person is on the job. The whole 'Varanasi kerfuffle' as you describe it - I don't think I could imagine you doing it 'their' way unless there was good reason beyond their own fears that they are somehow 'liable' for and any mistakes you make (if that makes any sense).
Lastly, very interesting that your view on burkhas has changed considerably since you arrived. Perhaps there's a nuance that's missed when examining the issue from the outside in.
Take care and I'll throw more comments up in 2 weeks once I'm back from another mini-vacation.
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