Before we moved to India, we came to visit for about 10 days. After we returned our friends and family had so many question about what life is like here in India. Now that we live here, we get so many questions about what our lives are like and what our lives in America were like. I thought I would share the top ten questions we get asked. We get asked most of these on a weekly basis, some daily!
A little context for those of you who are new readers. We live in India(a Hindu majority country) however, the area we live in is a Muslim area. All of our friends and neighbors are Muslims so these questions are coming from that point of view. I cover my head out of respect for the people we live among. I assume if we lived in a different area of the city the questions might be different, but I think many of them would be the same. I am not in any way making fun of these questions. I am appreciative that people ask questions instead of making assumptions. I believe you can learn a lot about people by the questions they ask.
In no particular order here are the top 10 questions:
1. Do people in America wear the same kind of cloths as us?
A. No, only Indian people who live in America wear Indian cloths. However, they are extremely comfortable.
2. Do you have kids?
A. No
Immediate follow up question: Why not?
A. We have been waiting to have kids. We are now in the process of adoption. This leads to many more questions. One of those questions usually being, "what is wrong with you?"
3. How long have you been married? (this is always connected with the kids question)
A. 3 years
4. Was your marriage arranged or love?
A. It was half and half. Our close family friends introduced us to one another because they thought we would be a good match and then we fell in love.
5. Do you know how to cook?
A. Yes
Immediate follow up: What do you cook? Do you cook roti(flat bread)?
A. I cook a lot of different things from recipes. People in America don't eat roti except in Indian restaurants(this is one of the most shocking answers of all)
Immediate follow up: If you don't eat roti, how do you ever get full?
A. I don't know :)
6. Are you from Kashmir(North India)? People in Kashmir are lighter skinned and cover their heads.
A. No, we are from America.
7. Where are you from?
A. America
8. Are you a muslim?
A. No, we are followers of Jesus(Isa al Masih).
9. Did you learn Hindi in school in America?
A. No, I wish!!
**10. I have never been asked this question, but Ryan gets asked it quite often. Is sex free in America? (not sure all that is behind that question)
A. No, why do you ask that?
There you have it, a glimpse into the questions that are in a part of our regular life. There are many other questions, some funny, some sad, and some very thought provoking. If you live close to, or work with people from other countries, I encourage you to to ask questions and break down those walls of misunderstanding. Many things would change in the world if we started asking good questions and listening to each other's answers.
A little context for those of you who are new readers. We live in India(a Hindu majority country) however, the area we live in is a Muslim area. All of our friends and neighbors are Muslims so these questions are coming from that point of view. I cover my head out of respect for the people we live among. I assume if we lived in a different area of the city the questions might be different, but I think many of them would be the same. I am not in any way making fun of these questions. I am appreciative that people ask questions instead of making assumptions. I believe you can learn a lot about people by the questions they ask.
In no particular order here are the top 10 questions:
1. Do people in America wear the same kind of cloths as us?
A. No, only Indian people who live in America wear Indian cloths. However, they are extremely comfortable.
2. Do you have kids?
A. No
Immediate follow up question: Why not?
A. We have been waiting to have kids. We are now in the process of adoption. This leads to many more questions. One of those questions usually being, "what is wrong with you?"
3. How long have you been married? (this is always connected with the kids question)
A. 3 years
4. Was your marriage arranged or love?
A. It was half and half. Our close family friends introduced us to one another because they thought we would be a good match and then we fell in love.
5. Do you know how to cook?
A. Yes
Immediate follow up: What do you cook? Do you cook roti(flat bread)?
A. I cook a lot of different things from recipes. People in America don't eat roti except in Indian restaurants(this is one of the most shocking answers of all)
Immediate follow up: If you don't eat roti, how do you ever get full?
A. I don't know :)
6. Are you from Kashmir(North India)? People in Kashmir are lighter skinned and cover their heads.
A. No, we are from America.
7. Where are you from?
A. America
8. Are you a muslim?
A. No, we are followers of Jesus(Isa al Masih).
9. Did you learn Hindi in school in America?
A. No, I wish!!
**10. I have never been asked this question, but Ryan gets asked it quite often. Is sex free in America? (not sure all that is behind that question)
A. No, why do you ask that?
There you have it, a glimpse into the questions that are in a part of our regular life. There are many other questions, some funny, some sad, and some very thought provoking. If you live close to, or work with people from other countries, I encourage you to to ask questions and break down those walls of misunderstanding. Many things would change in the world if we started asking good questions and listening to each other's answers.
Ha! I love that you tell people your marriage was half-arranged. These are great questions. I work with a lot of Indians (and other internationals) and I will say that they are much more direct about things than we are. Takes some getting used to but I like it.
ReplyDeleteMiss you guys! I'm still coming to India. Just figuring out when :-)
This is great! It was kind of fun to be asked if we were from Kashmir. I know this is the same feeling for every person in the world, but to us, American is regular and kind of boring since we're used to it ya know. But being asked if Kashmiri, it made you feel a little cool and exotic haha! But to them, American is probably the most exotic and interesting.
ReplyDeleteThis is encouraging to me, cause I'm not the best questioner. When sharing the good news I want to bring the whole story asap, but its probably more wise to tell a little, ans ask, tell a little and ask. THANKS FOR THE WISDOM!
I would like to add one to your list....Can I take photo? These were fun questions..I loved all the responses from your friends. Of course I had no idea what they or ya'll were saying but expressions were great. love ya'll
ReplyDelete