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The "immigrant experience" is a phrase I usually associate with the U.S., what with people from across the world streaming in here everyday. A travelogue is what I'd associate with literature by foreigners from India. But the blogosphere is telling a different story. Many American and other Western citizens, who have either got on the love train or are riding the global economy wave that took them to India or simply love living there, are blogging about their experiences in a personal way that travel guides are unlikely to offer. Some are there for a few years. Many are looking at a more permanent stay. All their stories are a refreshing look at my country, and a great guide for people planning to take the 24-hour flight across the oceans. Bloggers are sharing everything from festivals to travel experiences to cultural cues that can make the transition smoother and more enjoyable.
Here are a few gems I found. Their blogs will take connect you to others who are going through similar life changes and sharing them openly.
The White Indian Housewife is of Australian origin, now married to a Indian and living in Mumbai. She blogs about everything from festivals to finding fulfillment in life, especially since her life in India offers a lot less of the material comforts she was used to. She also blogs extensively about multicultural relationships based on her experiences; but it was this post -- The Difficulty of Being Married to an Indian -- that gave me a sense of how quickly she had caught up with some biases that we as Indians have always known, but do not always wish to put in so many words (We talked about the skin color bias earlier on BlogHer, though):
The way a person is treated in India is very much based on their position in society. In fact, upon meeting someone, the first thing that an Indian will usually do is determine that position, then act accordingly.
[...]
There is a general rule though, and it’s based on skin colour and gender. White men have top position in the pecking order, followed by white women, then Indian men, and lastly Indian women. In my experience, if I go out somewhere with a gora (white man), he will be the one that gets the attention from waiters, shop assistants, and Indians in general. If I go out with my husband, Indians will usually defer to me.
There have been so many times that I’ve had success complaining about something where my husband hasn’t. There have also been many times where a place has willingly opened its doors to me and my white skin, but has resisted letting him in.
A Girl from Foreign, Jurate Nair, is of Lithuanian origin, now living in Mumbai with her husband. She blogs heavily on culture and Bollywood. She also maintains a photoblog, India As I See It , and a food blog, A Lithuanian Cooking in India. (She probably has a Lithuanian version of her food blog, but I cannot, of course, read it).
B. Friendly In Delhi is of German origin, lives in New Delhi, and is probably married to/or is getting married right now to her Indian boyfriend. She wonders about the future of her intercultural relationship in this interesting post -- Legalizing A Relationship :
Will an Indian-German couple stand a chance? [...]
[T]he other day I was asked once again what I was doing in India. Quickly followed by an "Are you working here?" Despite the frequency with which this question is hurled at me, I´m never prepared for the Indian curiosity (naturally these questions last until they know how my "husband" is earning a living) and still have no proper answer laid out, so I fumble. "Well, I am married here" (since the term girl-friend has a sleezy ring to it in India, we always said we are married already )Oh, to an Indian? Disbelief. Yes. "And you live in India?" Yes. This time I felt a bit cocky and asked the woman "Do you feel sorry for me now?" She frowned. Did I mention that Indians are not that good with irony or sarcasm? I think I did. Anyway, so the lady goes with a big smile on her face and quite sure of herself "Well, if you come for an Indian man, you must love India and Indian culture very much!". WOW! Is that so? I wanted to respond with
