Tacos And Bollywood: An Immigrant Sharing

Sometimes when my day just sucks or I am really tired, all I want to do is eat tacos and listen to Bollywood music (Not Taco Bell. I am talking true Mexican style tacos).

Why Taco's? Well most days when I am upset I don't feel like cooking. Good authentic tacos are cheaper than Indian food in Madison. Most importantly though they have more of a "home cooked" feel.  While Indian food is my comfort food, restaurant Indian food in Madison feels well like "restaurant food."

In the small  family run Mexican joints I find the flavors that are familiar to my palette. It also gives me the feeling of going to the food stall around the corner back in Mumbai.

Strange right? But that's how it is.

As it turns out though it is not so strange- at least not to one of the Mexican girl who works at El Pablano.

While waiting for my tacos after a really tiring day, I was asking her what things behind a refrigerated case were. She was struggling to explain the taste of something- as she could not think of the English word. So she brought on out a container so I could smell it. The guy who took my order earlier- returned at this point, and stated it was cinnamon. I thanked him and her, and continue conversing with the girl.

I explained why I like Mexican food and how it appeals to my Indian palette. Upon learning that I am from India- she looks excited, and explains she loves Bollywood. She changes the music to some good old Mohabbatein. She explains that Bollywood movies and music are her and her sister's go to entertainment. She says she like it more than American TV, and asks me how to say some things in Hindi.

So here we are two immigrant girls- chatting- and finding comfort in other's culture. It is one of those surreal moments in life that I won't be forgetting any time soon.

A generation 1.5 Immigrant: A Fish Out of Water

Despite this blog being called
"Chai and Pie." I really have not talked about cross-cultural issues. I think it is due to the fact that it is difficult to talk about things when the topic makes you feel vulnerable. But at core of my existence is my mixed identity; I would not be authentic if I did not talk about it. What perhaps makes my identity more complicated is the age at which I came to the United States.

While my childhood was honestly Indian, I was very much an American Teenager in many ways.
As a result I do not really identify with Indians who were born and raised in the United States. Nor do I identify with my parents, or other first generation immigrant Indians. I do not know any Indians that are like me, a generation 1.5 immigrant (Not saying there aren't any- I just don't know any). Therefore, my closest Indian friends are in India. Most Indians I hangout with in the US are related to me. My friends in the US are mostly those to identify as American. I am very grateful for the friends and family I have both in India and the United States- Honestly, they are awesome! They have accepted me and mixed loyalties, and the confusions that comes with it. But not having many Indian friends in the US (first or second generation), or those who share my mixed loyalties- often makes me feel like the picture above. A fish out of water!!

Rather, I am that fish jumping out of a bowl with many into a bowl by myself. The bowl full of fish are representative of  the several different cultures I am part of.  But often wind up deviating from. I guess more accurately there would a graphic showing a fish jumping in and out of water.

Upon searching on the internet- I found I belong to a group called "Cross Culture Kids." More on being a Cross Cultural Kid some other time but knowing that I am part of a larger community of people with mixed identities- well there is comfort in it!! None the less I cannot help but want more Indian- American friends. It's something I plan to seek out more but not if they come at the expense of the great friendships that I have now. Not that I anticipate that happening.


* I found this image when I googled "fish out of water." I do not own the image. I do not intend any copyright infringement. 

Ghar Se Ghar Tak (Fom Home to Home)

Whenever you travel there is a familiar feeling when you hit your own bed- It’s good to be back home.  

But it’s strange to say that when I come back from India- where is home? I was very much an American teenager, but I had an Indian adolescence. As such, going to back to India is very much an emotional roller coaster.  But this trip which I made after being away for too long…  What more? I took my white husband with me. But this journey was too beautiful- if chaotic at times. None the less- I rediscovered India, and it’s still beautiful. India is not perfect by any means, nor was this trip, but those are discussions for another day.  Today is about the beauty of India.  

I grew up in a city of dreams, Mumbai. One day in Mumbai of taking it all in- I was reminded how beautifully diverse India is. To an American eye India might appear less diverse but that is not the case. There is no religion, language, class, caste, and yes, even race uniting India. It’s strikingly diverse. Indians’ embrace and fear this diversity all at the same time. It’s untamed- there is always something going on, and it’s always changing. People are curious if sometimes a little nosy. But adults and children alike bask in their curiosity. In this curiosity I find acceptance, how can you possibly embrace a person or idea without getting to know it? It’s spiritual not necessarily religions. One will be surprised by the number of Hindus at Haji Ali or Mount Mary, and vice versa. India is colorful and historic. Both these things entice me. India is full of contradictions- this both a positive and negative.It’s reminiscent of us,human beings. India at the end of the day is home.

But at the end of the day lying on my bed in Madison, Wisconsin felt like home.  My trip to India in December 2013 returning January 2014- was a trip from home to home.