Event 2: Delegation of Indian Educators

During this interesting delegation, which I found very helpful for my panel project being India, I was presented with a different array of Indian cultured food, and many native Indian women and men. It was exciting to ask questions and learn about someone’s life and culture that is completely different to yours. Our speaker for the day introduced herself as Ulma, who was 33 years old, and had never been married or intended on it, and had no children as well. We were interested to ask about her personal life, and so she told us very briefly, that she enjoyed being single because it meant she could continue doing what she loves, which was her job as a delegator, and meant not having to deal with an authoritative husband. She taught us that in Indian culture, the men always dominate, usually being involved in work, school, job opportunities, and they as well obtain the final decision when it comes to the household or marriage. Ulma described the men in India to be sinister; they had the authority to publicly humiliate women as they please, and to walk away as if nothing happened. Not even Ulma, could believe the difference between the men in America versus the men in India, and the way men in the U.S. respect most women, especially those that are in power, and the effect women could make in the U.S., whereas India their ideas were usually disregarded. She told us that one thing she was grateful for, was her family and how supportive they were of all her brothers and sisters, and she was lucky to have not grown up in a cultural traditional family, where the father decided who or when his daughter would marry. Not to mention, her family was still proud when she decided she would not want to marry in probably all of her life, they were supportive of her wanting to be dominated by a man and to further her career. The way women are viewed in India, is a huge aspect because they are seen as weak, and as a pure flower that must be covered at all times, due to this, women are maintained to barely expose any skin for their body is seen as sacred, and can have rocks thrown at her if she seems to be too open in exposing herself to men. Another major difference between India and America, Ulma emphasized was the education system in the two countries; India’s education process is much more crucial and difficult than a typical school in the U.S. In the first place, levels 1-5 were basics, as for 5-10, they are required to take a test, which determines whether they pass or fail to the next level, but one major difference was that levels 5-10 are mixed in with each other to create much more competitiveness. As well as, once you passed level 10, a student is required to take a public exam that initiated to all students once they pass 1-10, to take an exam where depending on your score determined the job you were allowed to pursue as a career, and attend college for. For example, an associate’s degree was considered the same as a bachelor degree, and if you scored high enough on the exam you were allowed to attend college to become a doctor, lawyer, or teacher; but if you received a low score your options were limited to becoming a receptionist, custodian, and retail employee. The amount of differences between such distinct countries is fascinating, even the food is cooked much different, so many spices were added when preparing a traditional meal, they tend to cook very spicy, and usually have their meats or lentils in a thick stew, to either be eaten with pita bread or falafel rice. Many households when eating their meals don’t use silverware, but prefer to rather eat with their hands. One thing that could be somewhat similar as to America, is fashion, their country is constantly adding modern style to their traditional wardrobes, or using influences of American fashion to create a new look for themselves. Ultimately, there are a number of differences between America and India, and in such short time I learned about so much in one country, it opened my eyes to being interested in the lives of those who live in a completely different home. There is so much that both distinct countries can learn from one another, and learn to appreciate the different cultures around us and the differences or simialrities we share.

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