morning_rain:

You have said it best. Hats off. "Culture is not a static thing" is absolutely true.

I think tradition on the other hand is a little more rigid in terms of its definition as formed by norms and more so perhaps by religion, faith, caste...etc

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If you have a gun, you can rob a bank.
If you have a bank, you can rob everyone.
- Bill Maher

Hey morning rain- good post.

Children in their teens usually do help out with festivals and children do normally celebrate their festivals at home, I believe.

Check out the Asian Heritage month in May every year. Lotsa activities organized by South Asians where tons of teens volunteer and it culminates in the RBC Desifest, a grand all day music festival at Yonge Dundas Square in TO, when the 'centre of the universe' goes Desi.

However there is no checking the influences of the environment one lives in. In schools, chldren are exposed to all cultures incl. Latinos, Philipino, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Egyptian, Irish, Scottish, etc etc. I actually encourage my teen to mix with other communities, not just hang out with SAs.

Nonetheless I'd like to point out that whenever I go pick her up at school, I find that there are clusters of students hanging out together. South Asians in one group, Philipinos in another, Chinese in another, Blacks in another-- damn sad in my opinion.

Anyway, digressing here.

Just another question to the OP- are your children born here or are you also like most other people having come here with young children born in India and they grew up here, 'cos even these types are referred to as CBCDs.

Anyways, I don't think they are confused. The one who label them so are the confused ones

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Originally posted by Maharaj

Quote:

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Originally posted by morning_rain
refresh my memory tk..arent you in the second group?

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Nahiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii ...
This is not good. You are challenging his intelligence here. How can you place him with others. TK is in League of its own. Have you heard of IBCD?

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So the original poster can't explain what he/she thinks is a CBCD ! ! !

Not sure why you want me to explain such a simple aged old notion when everyone else here seems to know what I am referring to?

Do you have kids?

Narada,
I do have a child and as a matter of fact he was born here. But people have different different perspectives on what they consider makes a person a CBCD. So I was curious to know what is your definition of a Canadian Born Confused Desi....

However, now I think it doesn't matter! I'm sure you got plenty of answers!

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Originally posted by naradavijaya

Thanks everyone for your responses.

I was just wondering if you:

1. make it a point to take your child to a temple
2. make them pray every morning after a bath/shower
3. dress up for Indian festivals and take them to temples
4. and for example, send them to Balvihar perhaps
5. teach them some history of India
6. teach them discipline and morals...something as simple as respecting elders
7. take them to India frequently
8. tell them about your parents and grandparents (if they don't live with you)
9. tell them the importance of family and to uphold family values

To be honest, I am not very concerned about sleepovers and stuff like that...as long as it is good family on the other side. Definitely won't encourage sleepovers where parents smoke for example or are known to fight a lot...etc

I understand that parenting is basically facilitating and nurturing the individuality of your children and not putting your stamp on them. But I believe we have some role in shaping who they will be along the way...it is not entirely "upto them". That just does not work in reality.

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