I think I’m the most westernized Indian I know. Of course, I was born in England, and haven’t visited India more than three times, and never since I was seven- but a lot of my friends growing up were British-born and had hardly visited India and were a lot more Indianized than I was.
I can’t eat hot curry, have never worn a bindi or powder on my forehead, and didn’t wear a kurta until my brother got married and my mother made me.
On the other hand, now that I’m a (young) adult, and living in the States, I’m experiencing a sort of fondness for all the things I shunned as a kid- raw silk clothing, bhajis and hot food of all kinds, and women in saris; go figure.
So, I ask you other Indian dopers- resident and non- how Westernized are you? Or if you live in say, Japan, how Japanesed (couldn’t think of a better word, sorry) are you?
<slight hijack>
I wanted to ask this in the sari thread, but since you’ve brought up your Indian-ness again, I have to ask: How did you choose the name dutchboy? :dubious:
</slight hijack>
LOL…
Nothing to do with the country…
It’s my fraternity nickname… in my younger days- well, three years ago- I was painting a float for my college’s Homecoming Parade, and happened to be heavily intoxicated at the time. I reached down for a frosty beverage, grabbed the gallon can of Dutchboy brand paint I was using, and without thinking took a swig of that…
As you can imagine, the name (and the yellow tinge to my lips and tongue) stuck for quite awhile.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, been to India maybe around six or seven times. My accent is about 70% ‘general American’ and 30% English (due to schooling in international British schools). I visit the temple maybe once a year (on Diwali).
I enjoy Indian food, but I’d rather have a well-done steak with fries on the side. I really like the style of Indian men’s clothing, but I’ve only worn a kurta around three times. The only languages I can speak are English and Spanish, and can’t speak Hindi to save my life. But I really do want to stay in India for a while and learn Hindi.
Oh, and in general, I can’t stand Bollywood movies.
I was born, brought up, studied and have lived all my life (excluding a little more than a year in Europe) in India. This is how I am:
I speak English 90% of the time. I can speak Hindi to save my life, but only just. I spent under a year in Germany, but I speak that language better than I do Hindi.
Although I grew up reading both American comics as well as Indian mythology (as well as the Mahabharata and Ramayana), my weltanschaung is decidedly western in nature.
I love how Indian food tastes, but if it’s too spicy or too oily my stomach can’t handle it (and the next morning, my arse can’t).
I think Indian clothing for men is generally uncomfortable. I wear it only rarely. But I do think it looks just great.
I can’t stand Bollywood films. The last one I liked was Satya, about 5 years ago. I just can’t identify wth them. I’d much rather watch foreign films.
Well I don’t know if I count. I was born and raised in the West Indies and am sixth generation Indian. I would say that I am far more Caribbean than Indian and quite thoroughly Westernized.
My mother is fairly devout and I’ve worn a sari twice and a salwar kemeez several times. I typically wear jeans though. I don’t speak Hindi, no one in Trinidad speaks Hindi as a matter of fact, but our religious traditions are the same as what was done in India two hundred years ago.
I don’t keep to any of the dietary restrictions but I do love Inidan food (although I prefer Chinese food). I don’t watch Bollywood films and never have.
However I did have a three day traditional Hindu wedding that my mother sprang on me :p. It was interesting to say the least since my husband was a white American and I am not religious and we found out about it all of a week before the wedding itself!
Born and raised in California (I’m 24), though I’ve been to India a few times once staying for 3 months (about 5 years ago) and once staying for a whole year (about 18 years ago).
I have no Indian accent, and can’t really speak Hindi or Gujarati. I can understand some Gujarati and can slowly read a little, but I’m out of practice. I’m not too Indian otherwise.
I’m not into Bollywood or Indian pop music. I appreciate Indian classical music, but usually don’t listen to much of it (just like how I appreciate Western classical, but rarely listen to it).
I do love Indian food though, but then I’m a food lover in general.
I also follow the religious philosophy a bit, but am not too keen on actually going to temples, and sitting through all the ceremonies. I am vegetarian, and have read a little about Hindu religion and identify as Hindu, though not strongly.
As far as clothes go, I’m not the biggest fan of men’s Indian clothes. I think suits look better for formal occasions and T-shirts and jeans are feel more comfortable. On the other hand I think saris are great. But I like them even better on non-Indians, maybe because that is more “exotic.”
You and about a million other “westernized” Indians…haha…it’s the Indian name that sounds white. I don’t think many people actually in India give their kids that name, since it’s actually more of a color.
