Outsiders 19 Jan Alina Aksiyote Benardete 1/19/2017 4:19 PM The elation of making it to the top of the world on Triund Hill with my squad. I skyped with my family last night and they recognized my new Hinglish-isms. I may have dropped an "only" in the middle of one of my sentences or told them I was "taking" my lunch soon. Hinglish-isms, like my addiction to chai, my love for Indian food (especially eating it with my fingers), and my natural ability to run on Indian Standard Time, are all going to make me feel like a foreigner when I go back home. Truth is, I’ve always felt like a foreigner. I grew up in cultural limbo, not quite American, not quite Mexican, not quite Turkish, not quite Jewish. It makes for a good elevator introduction, but always leaves me feeling like an outsider. Using new expressions incorrectly, ordering things I've never heard of at restaurants, meandering on oblivious to certain cultural norms— these are things I've done my whole life. What Delhi has taught me, is how to fully embrace my role of outsider. I’ve learned to laugh when I mess up and not be upset when the mystery menu item I chose was most definitely not what I was expecting. I’ve learned that standing for a nearly three hour long bus ride is not just a terrible thing that might have happened, but a funny experience and a story for back home. I’ve learned that being a privileged outsider allows you to push boundaries. As Fulbrighters we can ask questions that few people get to ask. There’s a technique to asking of course— 1) genuine intentions (you really do want to know what the person you’re asking thinks 2) commitment to what could be an extended conversation, and 3) a dash of innocence and charm. Being an outsider has allowed me to have conversations about our honorable President-Elect, about colourism and Islamophobia, Pakistan and Kashmir, about which guests are always treated like Gods here and which are usually not (mainly African, Bihari and Northeastern migrants), about caste and class, liberation for women and sexuality, about demonetization and Indigenous peoples right to land. These conversations are not easy, and the best conversations I’ve had happened with friends, not strangers. It’s one of the many reasons why we have to make a conscious effort not just to hang out with each other. Having my fellow Fulbright squad has been a godsend to say the least. At the risk of sounding cheesy, they are my life jacket, my concerned parents, my Chance the Rapper listening party on a bad day, my life-long friends. We've created spaces (mainly my living room) that transport me back to college, and conversations that make me feel at home. They’ve been amazing, but being present in this culture and place, embracing the role of outsider, it only really happens outside of these spaces, with newfound Indian friend The elation of making it to the top of the world on Triund Hill with my squad. Most importantly it happens at school, and I’m so grateful it does. While others spend their nine to five in an office cubicle looking at a screen, I get to spend mine with the world’s cutest, smartest kids. The best part is that my kids are my teachers. When I was sick they all took care of me, carefully explaining all the home remedies I needed. When I put my backpack on the dirty floor or drag my dupatta they scold me and pick it up. When I teach them a new word in English they teach it to me in Hindi. Being an outsider has allowed me to prove to them how little I know and how much I want to learn. All of the embarrassing, culturally unsuitable things that I do compel them to intervene, to teach me what’s what, to challenge the hierarchy of a teacher being above and the students being below. Some days I feel like I’m a terrible teacher, but still we’re making waves. I let them know I love them and they let me know too. This outsider role has done a lot for me. I think it suits me well. I’ll be leaving Delhi in two and a half months and I’ll be sure to take it with me wherever I go. Selfies on our school field trip to the Lotus Temple. Many of my students are learning how to write in English for the first time. For homework they had to make a comic. This is one of my favorites. It begins with a boy saying, “I am so cool” and a girl responding “No, I am so cool.” They call each other losers, and then the girl leaves. The boy promptly exclaims, “I am so bored” and goes looking for the girl. He apologizes and she says “It’s okay.” They both finish with, “That’s good.” Blogger : Alina Aksiyote Benardete Host Institute : Katha Lab School Delhi Categories : English Teaching Assistants Comments : 5 Comment Related Posts Comments Ankit Basu 5/26/2020 5:19 PM What excellent content it is! Just wow! Felt great reading this. The content makes a lot of sense. Indeed a great piece of content.<a href="https://ignou.net.in/ignou-handwritten-assignment/">Visit ignou.net.in</a> Arijit Koley 5/26/2020 5:17 PM Encouraging words from you, felt great about it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.<a href="https://ignoudocs.com/ignou-hand-written-assignment/">Visit ignoudocs.com</a> pankaj 4/2/2017 12:26 PM ohh wow. such a cool post. felling proud for being an indian <a href="http://ignoueducation.com/ignou-admit-card">Ignou Admit Card</a> ankit 2/9/2017 10:37 AM I like looking through a post that will make people think. Also, thanks for allowing for me to comment! IGNOU Courses http://www.ignouhelp.in/ignou-courses/ Rajwa Kamal 2/7/2017 3:47 PM It is really interesting to reads your experience in Indian Scenario. Write Comment Name: * E-Mail: * Website: Comment: * Notify me of follow-up comments via email. 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