So, I just finished talking with my Academic Director, Beau. He just wanted to talk to each of us individually to see how we are adjusting, and what are thoughts are about our ISP (independent study projects).
I dedicate this post to Sundes, because if she were here she would be the first to object to my classmates in this:
One of the main things we have been talking about as we adjust to our new Nepali lives is difference and otherness. We, as foreigners, are very much Other to the mainstream Nepali culture, but something that has been bothering me is that in pretty much every conversation, one of my classmates has stood up and said; "well, we all stand out because we are obviously white and therefore Other in Nepal".
Uhm. Hi. My name is Briana and I am not white.
*cough* .....
In fact, multiple locals now have approached me, speaking Nepali and asking me if I am Indian. I say no. Nepali? They ask. No. Not Nepali either.
Hmmm....maybe I am not so obviously other.
Anyway, I was talking to my director Beau about this, and he confirmed my suspitions/fears that I very well may appear to be more of a local at first glance. Why does that affect my stance when my lovely classmates stand and make such generalizations about us as outsiders?
Perhaps when a white friend of mine goes to a shop, they are not expected to know certain things. How much something cost, when its rude to bargain or not bargain, how to interact with different hierarchies of people, men and women -- all of these are excused immediately for my obviously Other friends.
For me, not as obviously, not so quickly. Already a few bus money guys have gotten annoyed at me for staring at them blankly when they try to ask me where I am going or try to get me to pay. When I walk down the street, people I pass may have certain expectations of me that I have no concept of what it might mean.
At this point, I still don't know what it means. My experience here will, perhaps, have a slightly different flavor than that of my other American friends. What that will be -- I guess I will find out.
however, just as a quick disclaimer: my classmates here are all really wonderful, and none of them mean any harm in their statements. But, when I talked to my director, he thought it would be a good idea to bring this perpective up to the others -- awareness is always a good thing :)
Anyway, I love you guys and will give you more experiential updates soon!
looooove
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ReplyDeleteI was *just* going to write a post about this and inquire if you felt similarly in Nepal.
Whoa. "When I walk down the street, people I pass may have certain expectations of me that I have no concept of what it might mean."
Exactly! And you should definitely bring this up with your classmates. Also Beau is a wonderful name and he sounds like a cool dude.
Wow....I'm so glad Beau and Sundes are encouraging you in this..what a great awareness to bring to your classmates! I wonder if this will play into your ISP? You do have a really interesting perspective....someone who looks like an Insider but is actually an Other....sort of like a covert peek into both worlds b/c you can walk in both.
ReplyDeleteXOXO Aaamaa
Haha, Sundes I knew you would be feeling similarly -- you should still post about it! I want to hear about how its going for you.... its definitely and interesting experience & I really wonder how its going to affect things like my Independent Study project.... my hair definitely sets me apart though, haha. I kind of feel like if I were Nepali I would be the nepali equivalent of goth/rebel kid, haha.
ReplyDeleteOhh man; some things never leave you.
Briana + Sundes,
ReplyDeleteI think you should definitely talk about it because this is a conversation really worth having. I know both you and Sundes have given me so much (aside from being wonderful people) but also by opening my mind and contradicting my thinking.
But I also think you should really take advantage of your position. I'm reading a piece now about feminist methodology, and how various power structures prevent feminists from engaging with their 'subjects' in an equal way. Although the power structure surely still exists for you two, the fact that you don't have the first and most obvious barrier, race, between you and the communities you are a part of, might open your world in a way that white researchers never experience. So I think you are lucky and you should take advantage of your unique position.
Also, talking about things never leaving you... in Indonesia when I told them I went to a women's college most people responded with 'OOh jeruk makan jeruk' which translated means 'orange eating orange' or ooh you are a lesbian! Even in Indonesia, Bryn Mawr stereotypes stay strong....
love you so much.