Christmas is coming... I am still thinking on the purpose of my trip and my teacher's last feed back before we meet in India.
I was told to wear light fabrics and or Indian style. That was when I raised some question to myself:
How many of us buy a Mexican hat before going to Mexico or a brazilian biquini before visiting Brazil's beachs?
Why am I going?
Perhaps you answer was: I buy a hat whenever I get there in order to save some money or I only wear a swimsuit that fits me well. However that is not my point. My point is that no matter where I am going I want to keep and have my own style, whatever it is. I don't want to fit into a cathegory just to be accepted. I don't want to have to hide my ethinicy.
Well, later I found out that such a serious matter occurs because there I will have to try my best to be accepted as a foreign woman, I mean, I have to disguise being a foreign one. I am probably questioning myself due to the seriuosness of my future days. My professor warned us about kidnaps, terrorist ataques or illness that we might suffer. As a result, the School put together a liability form stating that they are not responsible for any injury or problem we may have it. Then, I finally understood her warnings on trying to wear their outfits. I know I was reluctante to such idea because I expected to find a democratic society where I should be accepted the way I am. I know I was reluctante because I haven't not finished reading our social- philosophical books yet. There it was when my ignorance relied on...
My acceptance to their culture means conquer with their believes. It requires assimilation of their habits. Well, deeply in my mind, I still want to have the tourist prospective where I should be treated like a queen (speaking the Universal English language, eating my Caeser salad, wearing my high heels and being able to go out bymyself at anytime) since I will be spending my money there and increasing their revenues. However, from a more thoughful and educated view I should assimilate as much as I can of their culture and for it to happened I certainly will have to make an effort to get out of my confort zone and attempt to be like them. Who are them? That is another broad question, since they have serveral languages and religions. But, isn't that what makes NYC special? The miscenation of races? A place where numerous ethnicies are set together and managed to live in "harmony". Similar to NYC India is a miracle. A place where its population is twice as much as USAs and still functions with centenary habits and advanced technology. A place that I honestly want to understand how woman can reach equality rights when religion preaches against it. A place embebed with so many contriving believes that I await to see anxiously...
so...
Those are my thoughs for today.
7 days to go.
More to come laterrrrrr...
"Everything in life that we really accept undergoes a change." ~ Katherine Mansfield
