Sana Thakkar Week 11: Culture Shocks
The official wedding started the day after we arrived, and our family ensured the entirety of Ahmedabad knew my uncle was getting married by hiring a band of drums to play outside our building, during the photoshoot, as we drove to the venue, and while we danced at the baraat. Each and every family member danced to their full capabilities and carelessly threw money around as we journeyed to meet the bride. During the wedding, aside from the typical bride and groom activities, the rest of the party engaged in numerous side traditions. Most notably, our mission was to hide out uncle's shoes from the bride's side so that they could not steal them. In Indian customs, if the bride's side manages to steal the groom's shoes, he owes them a large amount of money. Additionally, as we were entering with the baraat. we had to ensure my aunt's (the bride) mother did not pinch my uncle's nose as she greeted us, which we unfortunately failed at.
Above the wedding's magical memories, it allowed me to realize the stark culture difference between the U.S. and India along with the power it has over people. My aunt and uncle also had a court wedding in California, and I was able to see exactly what a wedding means in India vs. the U.S. Weddings are just an example of the tremendous culture differences between the two. Yesterday, I saw a man riding an Activa with his legs criss-crossed while talking on the phone, an unimaginable act in America. The concept of each country involving a new culture shock is riveting, as it holds great power of the way people think and act, what they normalize and degrade.
Hi Sana! The topic of your blog is really interesting because I think most people disregard culture shocks until they experience them. Learning about culture shocks is also important if you’re someone who likes to travel, because without learning the culture’s norms, it’s highly likely that you’ll make a mistake. For instance, many countries that I have visited, such as Singapore and Malaysia, are countries you can visit without any knowledge on their native languages. However, in France, most people expect you to have a basic understanding of French if you plan on visiting, and many restaurants and establishments will find it disrespectful if you walk in with no French knowledge whatsoever. The culture shock you mentioned, about elaborate weddings being the norm in India, is also interesting because it shows how different people find interesting ways to go about their ways of life while also remaining somewhat interconnected to each other. Even despite all these culture shocks, it is also important to recognize how similar many cultures are. For instance, most countries rely on the importance of verbal communication, and celebrating festivities with your loved ones. While Christmas and Thanksgiving are important holidays in America while Diwali and Holi are important holidays in India, the underlying idea about spending time with the people you love remains the same. Culture shocks can not only remind us about the diversity of humanity but about how similar we all really are.
ReplyDeleteHi Sana!
ReplyDeleteFirstly, the picture you included in your blog is so beautiful. Secondly, I think your blog topic is really relevant to today's society in which there are so many different cultures around the world. I think culture shocks are so real and are not talked about often. It is so interesting and unique to be able to experience a completely new culture and compare it to the one you are familiar with. I am from Pakistan but I can relate to a lot of the stuff you mentioned that you noticed in India. In both countries, culture continues to be one of the most powerful factors in people's lives. It drives their daily routine, their decisions, and even their leisure time. Cultural holidays in South Asia are some of the biggest events I have seen, where the power of love and unity brings people from all walks of life together.