So a lot of times, I feel like I'm five years old around these parts. I'm leaning on a railing, "Oh, madaam don't DO THAT!", I'm taking a picture, "Oh madaam, NO PICTURES!", I'm shopping in a store I frequent, "Oh madaam let me help you. I don't think you know what you're doing. THIS is a salwaar kameez." - Me:"Yes, I know. I'm wearing a salwaar kameez right now."
Probably the best thus far was the other week when I got scolded by my landlord for coming home after dark. "You should NOT do! Even I don't allow my 26 year old daughter to do that! You need to let your roommate know where you are at all times. You need to call her when you're coming home late."
"But she's not my mother," I jokingly say (I'm such a smart-alleck).
"You DEFINITELY need to be in earlier! You will get cheated by the auto rickshaws!"
*sidenote: I'm kinda bummed because I asked my landlord to scold me in Hindi, but then he thought twice about it and said that no one else in the room would have understood how bad he was scolding me if he spoke in Hindi. I love this shame culture :)
Sometimes I just don't want to be told how to do things every minute, you know? Maybe the hardest for me is when American women here treat me like I'm five. The other week a sweet, American lady whom I love told me, "You know, Camille, you probably shouldn't be out past 8pm." Me:"Well, I know my mom would appreciate you saying that."
The problem is I work in an office until 5:30/6pm everyday, so I'm not really sure when I could get to know people or do my grocery shopping, but I suppose it is possible.
I know they're only trying to be helpful and look out for the white girl. What can I do except laugh at how they think I'm five years old even though, guess what, I'm 24.
