Why I stayed in the US of A !!
Saturday, November 12, 2005 at 12:39PM We had a Diwali party at my daughters daycare on Friday. It was by far the most amazing party I have ever attended in the US. There are close to 120 kids in this daycare and they are practically from all ethnic, cultural, religious backgrounds from across the globe. They all came dressed up in Indian clothes, lit "diyas" (lamps) and danced to indian music, listened to a "Jai Jagdeesh Hare" prayer sung by the Indian parents, and a description of the Diwali festival. Of course there was Indian snacks served after the dance program.
What struck me as most amazing was that I did not for a minute feel that this was an international crowd. I felt I was back home in India!! At the end the celebration, the daycare director said "this is what we want to promote here ! An openness to all cultures and diversity so everyone gets to learn about every culture ". It really touched me.
On second thought, I should have been celebrating Halloween with more gusto all these years !!
This land is truly amazing and I guess that this openness and cross cultural awareness of the average american citizen is what drew me to stay here after I graduated ! I remember paying 5 bucks a person for a whole bunch of my international grad school buddies to watch world cup cricket in our auditorium, just because they really wanted to know what motivated me to sleep in the auditorium and wait for a game that began at 1:30 AM local time !!
It is an ever shrinking world people and the first ones to shink out of this world will be the people who are small enough not to accept cross cultural diversity !!After seeing kids from Russian and Mexican backgrounds wear mini Gagra Cholis and "pattu Paavadais", not to mention colorful bindis and dance to "Dhoom Machchaye", you realize something special is happening here !!
Remember my 7 Tag ? I am 1/2 out of 7 there.. Had so much fun dancing with my daughter ..
Click on the picture to see video...
Reader Comments (12)
GREAT DANCING THERE! Im not surprised who she got all the moves from!
welcome to blogger varun..
:)
maybe her mom..
he he
Sundar,
You said: This land is truly amazing and I guess that this openness and cross cultural awareness of the average american citizen is what drew me to stay here.!
Very true...I feel the same ways.!
Surprised to read about the Deepavali party.!! I guess that's what South Bay is all about.! Nothing my side.!!
I'll watch the video tomorrow. Its past midnight now. ( 1.35)
Hehehe awww that was soooooooo cute - the kid can dance ;p
Sundar, I agree 100%. The US is more "welcoming" of diversity than any other country. But India has also long embraced diversity, but there we "tolerate" it, not necessarily "welcome" it and that's the difference :-)
That is the best part of SF-Bay area! Multicultural and so far peaceful. I have heard about stories that how racism is still prevalent in other parts of the country. My wife's cousin lives in NC and he said there are bars where only whites are welcome (they cannot publicly say that though). But the party looks great. Hope you guys had good food as well!
narayanan sir,
i thought this was a very common thing in bay area..
thennavan, your point on tolerating diversity vs. embracing it is right on!
visithra, thanks.
ambi, you are right. i used to live in upstate new york. once my friend suresh and me were on a long trip and on the way back we stopped at a mall to use the restroom and the stares we got "why are they here" looks and the kids looking at us like we had landed from mars . .it was some experience. but at the end of the day, the average experience is nicer here, especially in the bay area.
diasy priya
welcome to the blog.
:)
Love the video, just wait until your daughters dance together with you, and the pictures of your newest little one, I hope that when the time comes for us, we can find a daycare that's as friendly and caring as yours.
congrats e. didnt know you had one on the way.. i am sure you will find a nice daycare in your area as well.
:)
Nice video Sundar and it looks like a great party. Sweet
thanks WA..
unga dance party eppidi irundhudhunnu sollave illeye ?