Maharashtrians from Bombay
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Network: Maharashtrians from Bombay
Posted on: 08-07-05 08:27:07
Most of the reasons you state seem to be reasons to remain in India. Why do we feel so scared to move outside of our circle of comfort?
You talk of food as an example....how many people even try other cuisines? The positives in going to another country is to experience the culture (food being one of the facets) there, not just do pot-luck parties where families cook their sambar/mutton rogan josh or what have you.
Quote:
Orginally posted by alexm
Why do we feel so scared to move outside of our circle of comfort?
I reckon that very few Indian immigrants immigrate to experience a different culture. Once here, dietary restrictions and cultural taboos also have an effect (although I have known vegetarians that work around this very well).
This isn’t unique to Indian immigrants though. Less educated southern European immigrants also rarely venture out beyond their own linguistic groups.
Quote:
Orginally posted by alexm
Most of the reasons you state seem to be reasons to remain in India. Why do we feel so scared to move outside of our circle of comfort?
You talk of food as an example....how many people even try other cuisines? The positives in going to another country is to experience the culture (food being one of the facets) there, not just do pot-luck parties where families cook their sambar/mutton rogan josh or what have you.
My family is one which ventures out to try all kinds of food - and we have enjoyed it so far. However, for many families - who have been extremely successful in various sectors of life (job, friends, position, social circle, mingling with other nationalities etc.) would not try out on food atall. Infact, an hour after writing this post I am leaving for camping with two families which are such (great in all respects and have lived in atleast two other countries before coming to Canada) - would not touch anything non-vegetarian with a ten foot pole.
On the other hand - I live in Concord - in the east we have Thornhill - predominently Jewish area (more than 75% I think as confirmed by recent article in Toronto Star) - most of the shops cater to their food (Kosher), they have synagogs there, and other things related to their ethinicity. On the west is Woodbridge - an area pre-dominently Italian with restaurents, grocery shops, businesses etc full of Italian taste. Slightly south (not too close but not too far) is jane/Finch which is pre-dominently a 'black' (so called) area where you can see dozens of similar ethinicity people crossing the road at the same time. All these people I don't think are Indians (correct me if I am wrong) - but they follow what you say is an Indian trait and true only if you were living in India. Or is it they was eye-washed by Indians????
Similarly, the Richmond hill area, west of Yonge is full of two communities - Russians and Iranis. I do not think even they are Indians in any manner. Do you have an explanation for that??
Chandresh
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Chandresh
Advice is free – lessons I charge for!!
Well said Chandresh. Your previous post about reasons to mingle in our own groups was really excellent. You had put my feelings into words. While mentioning areas, not to forget Markham which is predominantly occupied by chinese. So yes we live in a multicultural society (and I can say that stronly since I am from Bombay which is as multicultural as Toronto, only in the other respect, that people come to Bombay from all parts of India and not all parts of the world) but in our hearts we are what we grew up as. No matter what facade you put on, given a choice, you would still celebrate diwali and would still and would still teach your kids to "pair chhuo" of adults.
Quote:
Orginally posted by chandresh
Similarly, the Richmond hill area, west of Yonge is full of two communities - Russians and Iranis. I do not think even they are Indians in any manner. Do you have an explanation for that??
Chandresh
I think Crenshaw in his previous post expressed better what I was trying to say: it reflects on the outlook of a person (Indian, Italian, whoever) whether they try to create their own mini community or have the desire to explore what their adopted country offers. I mentioned it because of the large number of posts here reaching out only to their own community of people.
In all these predominnantly ethnic areas that you mention look at the mindset of the average person there: there is not much desire to venture 'outside'. I say this from having spent some time in NYC and seen different neighburhoods; I assume it is not much different from Toronto in this respect?
Experiencing another culture does not necessarily mean that you are losing touch with your own. Neither does it mean that one is putting on a 'facade'.
Quote:
Orginally posted by alexm
I think Crenshaw in his previous post expressed better what I was trying to say: it reflects on the outlook of a person (Indian, Italian, whoever) whether they try to create their own mini community or have the desire to explore what their adopted country offers. I mentioned it because of the large number of posts here reaching out only to their own community of people.
what do you mean by it reflects the outlook of a person? By trying to create their own community itself means that they are already living in the vast group the 'adopted' country has offered, and thereby it gives a reason or generates a desire to form a mini community of their own. This shows that while they have adopted the other country with open arms and left everything they grew up with, they are not wanting to lose touch with their own community and do not want it to die down.
Quote:
Orginally posted by alexm
In all these predominnantly ethnic areas that you mention look at the mindset of the average person there: there is not much desire to venture 'outside'. I say this from having spent some time in NYC and seen different neighburhoods; I assume it is not much different from Toronto in this respect?
By very definition an average person is one who normally does not have a keen (I strees on keen - there might be a hidden but not so keen) desire to venture outside. So you are not saying anything which is different from the definition of the word.
Quote:
Orginally posted by alexm
Experiencing another culture does not necessarily mean that you are losing touch with your own. Neither does it mean that one is putting on a 'facade'.
EXACTLY! Trying to find and form your own ethnic community circle in such a large multicultural society does not necessarily mean that you are trying to remain ONLY in your circle and are not ready to venture out. Neither does it mean that one's outlook is narrow or that he is an average person
Chandresh
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Chandresh
Advice is free – lessons I charge for!!
i totoally agree with alexm on the point he made. Isn't it enough that we consider ourselves maharashtrans, bengali's, gujarati's and not Indians in India that we bring this attitude to Canada too? The very nature of this post suggests that non-maharashtrans even if they are from bombay are not expected to respond and make friends with maharashtrans! I am from bombay but I am an INDIAN....is that good enough for you to make friends with me?
