5 and a half years of watching people of different ages, in different situations and of different lifestyles; I had to seek inspiration from Mr. Darwin to render my theory about the subjects of my faction - 'NRI'volution.
Over the past 2 decades, the number of "International Aliens" from India has been tremendously growing and the whole "culture shock" process doesn't seem to be a concern anymore. I believe, In the process of getting accustomed, every NRI traverses through one or more of these phases during their journey; voluntarily or involuntarily.
Phase 1:
Over the past 2 decades, the number of "International Aliens" from India has been tremendously growing and the whole "culture shock" process doesn't seem to be a concern anymore. I believe, In the process of getting accustomed, every NRI traverses through one or more of these phases during their journey; voluntarily or involuntarily.
Phase 1:
- Staring at everything and everyone, this is something that every Indian goes through (Remember? staring at every person boarding the bus or peeping into houses / windows while you pass or glancing at everyone who looks slightly indifferent)
- If it is a guy, every white girl looks beautiful to him (as one of my friend terms it - A 'Speed Breaker')
- Every dollar spent is converted into rupees
- "If it were in India" is your favorite line for the next few months
- Frequency of catching up with friends / family back home - atleast once a week
- Walmart and Kohls are the places of Awe
- Taking pictures and sharing them is your latest hobby
- Shopping at Aeropostale and Old Navy IS a big deal
- You take pride in twisting your tongue while speaking English so that people understand you
- Taco bell and Mc Donalds are the only restaurants you know
Phase 2:
- Hi transforms into Hey, Curd becomes Yogurt and the first words out of your mouth are "Whats up!"
- Hip-hop is the new cult
- Your pants go down your waist by an inch or two and you are not worried about your innerwear showing out
- You are past Aeropostale and like it at American Eagle
- Attitude is your new language
- Trip to India is the next thing on the calendar
- Parties on Friday nights is your slogan and pubs are your entertainment hubs
- Hitting the bed at early hours and waking up at noon is the trending regime and you are proud of it
- You visit deals2buy and sister websites atleast once a week
Phase 3:
- Poker is the new religion
- Cricket's out and Football (American) is in
- You are more concerned about fitness than you ever were
- Photography is the new found passion
- Smart phones and Expensive cars are the latest prides
- Hollister and A&F are the only brands that fit you
- You prefer watching sports to playing and if you are playing something it is on X-box / Wii
- Sporting Hair / beard is your new style quotient
- Green Card is the next thing on your bucket list
- The new jinx is heading back home versus making this your home
- You are more active in political matters or debating about national progress and social causes, on facebook!
- You bring in the accent while talking to desis too
Phase 4:
- Teaching your mother tongue to your kids seems impossible, which is your major concern - keeping the traditional spirits alive is important!
- All the long lasting ties tend to start disappearing
- Golf is your new found love
- You tip well at restaurants, now!
- Worrying about the accent is long gone
- Stocks is the new language you speak
- Desis are boring, you choose to live in a hideout
- Lazyboys, Plasma TVs, Backyards and Minivans are new possessions
- Suddenly, Whole Foods is what you feed on.
- Decaf and Diet Coke are the staple sips
Phase 5:
- You travel in nothing but business class
- You are more concerned about your district's mayor than the Prime Minister of India
- You are just happy that your bride / groom is a desi
- You are probably the most cultured desis on the foreign lands
- 90% chances are that you are a doctor / own a restaurant / run a motel
- All your donations go towards spiritual institutions
- If it is not home or office, it is temple.
But whatever we do and wherever we are, one must remember that; "Once an Indian, Always an Indian!"