Well, well, well here we are again. I guess there's just too many situations that is too real for us ABCDs.
1. When you're offered money from a relative and you're forced to "refuse it" by your parents.
By now you should know that you have to do a certain little dance where you refuse to take the money and the relative insists on giving it, in which you take it and inevitably ends up in your parents' wallets.
2. Being allowed to watch Indian movies, no matter how obscure, is OK because it’s an Indian movie.
Watching an Indian movie, especially a South Indian movie, in which an actor and his “gang” is shown decapitating many individuals with sledgehammers and butcher knives is OK for Indian parents because it’s an Indian movie. However, watching an English movie where the lead actors are making out is just way too inappropriate. Now we will forever be known as those “heartless” people in history class who never show any emotion when watching a documentary because we practically grew up watching Indian movies since childhood.
3. When you didn’t know whether to bubble in your ethnicity as “Asian” or “American Indian.”
I can’t be the only one that didn’t realize I was supposed to put “Asian” on star testing exams until like the fifth grade right…
At this point, you don’t even have to speak for them to know you’re not from India, giving them the joy and “liberty” to jack up the rickshaw rates by 2394839 percent and making that 7000 Rs. sari to be the cost of your college tuition. They can just tell by the clothes you wear and the number of mosquito bites you have.
5. One of the best parts of high school was going or having Indian sweet sixteens and graduation parties.
Not sure if the best part was hogging the photography section of the venue, turning up to the Bollywood and English music mashups or dressing up in the most bomb Indian clothes you own.
6. When someone asks you to say something in your “other language.”Apparently the fact that I don’t speak “Hindu” or “Indian” is appalling to some, and when I do speak that “other language," it always follows with a big laugh and a “WHAT DID YOU SAY?” Ugh.
7. When non-Indians can't tell between a real Indian movie and an Indian-based American movie.
And if you're reading this, yes, "Life of Pi" and "Slumdog Millionaire" are not real Indian movies.
8. If you misbehaved, your parents would threaten to send you to
boarding school in India.
Honestly this threat made “timeouts” seem like a blessing.
9. When your biggest suitcase when going to India is reserved for gifts.
The basic equation is to have half of a small-medium suitcase of clothes and toiletries per person, plus stuffing any small gifts you have while maintaining the weight limit plus the biggest suitcase you own being stuffed with the countless amounts of toys, clothes, purses and any other possible gifts for friends and relatives.
10. When your Indian friends come over and your mom makes Indian snacks.
This can be awkward when a last-minute non-Indian friend shows up, especially when the food that is made is too spicy for them.
11. Similarly, being the one kid in elementary school that always had Indian food for lunch.
Nothing beats the smell of curry the second you open that lid, especially when you're trying to sneak in food in class!
12. If you go out and don’t at least text your parents every five minutes, they will just assume you’re dead.
We know the “where are u..,” “have u come home?,” and the “who are u with..,” too well.
13. When your parents say “we’ll see.”
This essentially means that when your parents “see," you’ll never get to “see” the fact that they basically mean “no” and “never in your life."
14. When you go to India and some relatives ask your parents if you know your mother tongue in front of you.
I think this is pretty much self-explanatory…
15. When it’s the weirdest feeling ever to not eat rice and/or roti in a long time.
AKA the story of every Indian college student’s life.
Here’s part one if you haven't read it!
