Today I met my Professor. We talked briefly and agreed that I shall do some project on neural networks. If I got it correct I'm supposed to meet somebody later, who will supervise my work. For now I was brought to a computer lab to "browse the internet" until some necessary forms are ready: India is very bureaucratic.
I am thinking a lot. All the time I try to make sense of the things I see, relate new experiences to previous knowledge, classify impressions, ... understand. Only when they don't work you become aware of all the subconscious routines guiding you through daily life. When I see somebody on the street in Germany I can make a pretty good judgment about that person base on their movement, cloth, language, and so on. Here even the facial expressions are different! There is this sideways nod of the head, that a shop owner might give you after a deal. In Germany this gesture in combination with the expression they use means contempt or "you're stupid". I hope here it means something different, as I was just given the same look by my Professor. Wow, that's irritating!
Social cognition doesn't just flow. It needs a lot of conscious effort. Experiencing this I have now a lot more understanding for all immigrants who come to Germany and don't integrate into the culture.
When I came here I expected I could completely integrate into Indian life. By now I think that's utopic (impossible). The cultural constraints are strong. Together with the culture comes the social group. So far I got to talk to only few Indians and it is hard to get into an established group of friends. That's difficult even in you're own country. On the other hand there's the community of other IAESTE Interns which whom I have much more in common. We life together, we come from similar cultures, and above all we're in the same situation of being strangers. There's a strong sense of community with the interns and occasionally I feel like a soldier in a colony during the 1800s. With our small white community we walk through the city, just not fitting in there and not understanding the people around us.
I will to try to engage in some activities with native students, and stay attentive and open to learn. In any case I haven't been here for even a week and usually things change unexpectedly ;)
I will write more on my perception of cultural differences and my mental reactions soon (including pictures).
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2 comments:
I think it is impossible to really integrate to a culture which you dont grow up with. But just enjoy your trip! It would be a fantastic experience to feel being different in a strange land! :D
The sideway nod can mean a lot of things...but often (and I think in the shopkeeper case) I understand it as a kind of confirmative gesture...I had so internalized it, was doing it unconsciously all the time (even in Germany it supposedly happened :)). Try to avoid only sticking with other foreigners, it's very easy and convenient but it reduces your experience a lot, always perceiving India and Indians as distant. Walk around alone and you'll meet lots of people...many of them annoying, but some of them great hosts and interesting friends. Hope you have a great time there :)
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