Being a cross-cultural kid having lived in both India and the Netherlands, both countries feel like home. For me each country encompass delights and disappointments. I will write a blog post on this topic in the future, but I know it’ll take quite some thinking, writing and rewriting. Therefore, for now I am sharing something else instead. An eye-opener I had during my travels to India with my son.
I lived in India during my teens and attended high-school in Delhi. This time round, during our visit, I got to meet some of my ex-classmates. In doing so I was somehow transported back to a decade ago. We met up in a park and I noticed how super comfortable I felt conversing with them in the ‘Indian way’; codeswitching. I have brought up my son bilingual; he understands English, but not Hindi. Watching him at ease in this foreign setting; interacting with people and children he’d not met before I once again realised that there is so much more to communication than language alone.
Seated in the park, I realised that India had been my home, and still felt like home, but it had never been my son’s home. One can easily learn a ‘foreign language’ when not living in the specific country, but only while being immersed in that ‘foreign country’ does one truly learn and understand the language. Body language, intonation and which topics are touched upon during chit-chat are definitely culturally (country) determined. This was such an eye-opener, and something I had never previously observed
Whenever I revisit India I crave the delicious foods I’ve missed outside of India. Especially the mouth-watering Jalebi! which is only available in winter. My son relished it too. I am glad he loves his dahl chawal, cause he has a no/low tolerance to spices, which makes outdoor dining a bit tough In Delhi. Dahl, rice and dahi is actually his comfort food.
If you’ve ever visited Delhi you will remember the cacophony of omni-present sounds. I was amazed to notice how comfortable my son felt in this cacophony. Even the constant sounds of loud horns didn’t bother him. He noticed its melodious beauty. How at ease he was in these foreign surroundings.
He is truly another cross-cultural kid, and I am proud of him đŸ™‚
Shakti Hannie 