I was born in Chennai, India and moved here when I was two years old. I speak English without an accent, I love mac n cheese, and I am a naturalized American citizen. I now live in a New Jersey suburb where Asian-Americans are teachers, doctors, and store-owners, and are integrated into a fairly 'American' lifestyle. If I moved back to India I'm sure I would stick out like a sore thumb. If I hadn't made it clear, I'm pretty American.

In the 2010 census, 17.3 million Americans listed themselves as full or half Asian, a 46% increase from the last survey. At the same time, the stereotypes that are perpetuated by the media reinforce one of two things: 'the brown terrorist' or 'the Asian nerd'. People are either too lazy or too apathetic to look at Indian culture as more than this two-dimensional caricature.

This results in a few awkward moments:

1. When people call Native Americans "Indians"

Thanks a lot Columbus.

2. "Isn't Diwali just Indian Christmas?"

Yes, and Easter is Christmas, and Passover is Christmas, and Ramadan is also Christmas. Can't have too much Christmas can we?

3. When we're suddenly "not Asian"

India is in Asia, people. Suddenly the need for Map of the Modern World makes sense.

4. "Don't you pray to cows?"

No, not really...but maybe we should. I mean, look at that hair.

5. When they want to know what caste you are

How much do your parents make a year?

6. "Do you speak Indian?"

And American too!

Just a word to the wise: if you feel like eating Indian food, watching a Bollywood movie, or learning to tie a sari, go ahead, but take a moment to acknowledge the fact that us Indian-Americans are real people who really aren't fond of being exoticized.

We're more than curry-eating tech-support people. We're navigating a path in between a culture that's thousands of years old and fitting into a modern lifestyle, and while I'm sure your call-center joke actually has some truth behind it, give us a break sometimes.