Observing Indian culture abroad

We move out of our own country, searching for a better life. We get jobs that pay us more, we get a lifestyle that is something we could never have dreamed of back in India. But India remains in our hearts and minds. Its the country that has made us who we are and taught us our values and traditions. And that’s exactly what becomes a daunting task when bringing up children in a culture, so different from the one we grew up in.
We were brought up in an environment where family took priority. Our parent’s word was always the final word. We ran back home from school to mother’s cooking. Played under the watchful eye of the neighborhood aunties as they caught up on the day’s gossip. In fact, everyone was our uncle, aunt, brother or sister!
But here everyone is independent and not interdependent as we used to be. The children look at their friends from school and their lifestyles and want to be treated exactly the same. Its not that being brought up as an American child is a bad thing, but we want our kids to go through the same life experiences that we did. We try and create a little India at home. But its not always that the kids respond well to that. In fact, they shun it because they feel they’ll be shunned if they are not a part of the crowd. If they don’t act like their counterparts in school, they feel left out. Its a huge dilemma.
They don’t want to be answerable to us or stick to our deadlines. They want to move out of the house at 18 just like their friends would. Back home in India, our home remains our home forever, unless you move to another city or country for work!
The question on everyone’s mind is whether to bring up their children in America in the American way or to create a little India at home for them to experience the culture. Some have even debated moving back to India!

We can’t really judge who is right or wrong, but its a personal choice. One that we all have to make as NRIs!

Celebrating Republic Day outside India

Many Indians may have made their home abroad, but their hearts and minds still remain in India! Religious festivals are celebrated with much fanfare, but when it comes to celebrating the country, they are not far behind either!