What are your goals in India? – 9/12/14

                This afternoon my group had a nice chat with Rajeev-ji, the manager of the hotel in which we’re staying during our time in Jageshwar. He wanted to know about our goals for India (and life in general) and conducted the encounter hot seat style (asking us to explain ourselves one by one in front of everyone). Of course, he chose to interrogate me first and, boy, was that an intercultural exchange. The conversation went something like this:

Rajeev-ji: What are your goals during your tour of India?

Me: I want to learn Hindi, experience Indian culture firsthand, and do meaningful/effective service work while I’m here.

Rajeev-ji: But what are your goals?

Me: Ummmm *confusedly* Learn about Hindi and Indian culture and do service work

Rajeev-ji: So you want to marry an Indian man?

Me: I haven’t really thought about it, but not at the moment, no.

Rajeev-ji: So why are you learning about Indian culture and language?

Me: I’m just interested in it, I guess.

Rajeev-ji: Oh, so you want to be a teacher?

Me: Maybe at my service site here, but not for a long term career.

Rajeev-ji: Well then what do you want to do?

Me: I’m not really sure yet.

Rajeev-ji: Oh no, that is very bad. A girl your age should know what she’s doing with her life.

Me: I guess I’ll figure it out while I’m here then.

Rajeev-ji: It’s very worrying that America is such a powerful country and its young people have no direction!

Me: I’ll figure it out soon enough, don’t worry.

Rajeev-ji: My daughter is eleven and I already helped her decide what she will be when she’s older. She told me she wanted to be an accountant and I told her no. Then she said she wanted to be a designer and I said that was okay.

Me: *smiles encouragingly*                  

Rajeev-ji: Okay next person!

                Of course, this is a boiled down version of what occurred and there was a great deal of laughing interspersed with this conversation as well as a lot of confused looks as we each tried to understand the point of view of the other person. The directness of the questions was a little startling for me and I was somewhat taken aback by Rajeev-ji’s lack of filter. In the USA it would be pretty weird for a virtual stranger to tell you that it’s strongly disconcerting that you haven’t gotten your life plan figured out yet or ask if you are interested in marrying Indian men. In some ways it’s refreshing to have someone be so sincere and forthright, telling you what they honestly think. I will definitely need some time to get used to this style of interaction, but I know that there will be many interesting conversations to come over the next year.