I said something that knocked their socks off. They appeared paralyzed in midst of eating lunch, and surprisingly speechless. These cashiers, chatty with every Tom, Dick and Harry that crossed their line had their two cents to add to every conversation. But, not to my announcement. Not today. Their response took me off guard. Until the pin-drop silence was broken, I realized I was doing something unique. I was indeed breaking away from the monotonous life of a drone-clone cashier.
“So….you want to go to…. India?” She said, possibly thinking I said Indiana not India.
“Yes, India… It’s this whole other country…” I couldn’t resist answering with a Forrest Gump undertone. Hadn’t anyone in my small homogeneous town heard of the fascinating subcontinent popularly known as India?
Apparently not. But I knew when I proclaimed this; this dream would manifest itself and become reality, somehow.
Over the next few years, I became the first in my family to take charge of my educational destiny. I became an educational entrepreneur. Registering for maximum credits every semester, I attended additional classes in Indian studies; familiarizing myself with the rich geographical, cultural, linguistic, and spiritual diversity that is India. In tandem, I initiated a financial plan: saving money while educating myself on the cost of living in my new home. Collecting this information proved to be easier than I thought with this new technology called “The Internet.”
As my plans were coming together to go to India, the more resistance I faced. Study abroad consultants from a number of American colleges unanimously agreed this path would be highly risky. They would painstakingly list reasons against it, while promoting their programs. Was it because they would loose my money if I went on the road less travelled? I knew I would save more than $48,000 by studying in India. Or was it with the support of their program staff I would forgo the possible insanity that some experience through culture shock?
The consultants had a good point, a support structure is imperative to a successful study abroad experience. To provide me guidance in dealing with the pending uncertainty, I created a cheerleading squad. Before the age of phone conferencing and outsourcing, we led the way in cross-continental communication and logistics planning keeping in close contact via this new contraption called ‘e-mail.’ Working diligently together, we secured my admission to a top ten college in India. I would be the first matriculated degree-earning American to study at that college. Though we faced many hurdles in the admission process, some of these hurdles pale in comparison to the hurdles faced during my stay in India. Without my dream team, their constant contact, inspiration, feedback and guidance, I may not have been as successful as I was.
Along the way, with the help of my dream team, I implemented strategies to cope with cross cultural communication misunderstandings and daily life challenges that would not have been faced by me if I had decided to study in America. In the face of adversity, I was determined to discover creative pathways to adapt to change and uncertainty to see my dream come to fruition. These are the qualities that bought me from the fifth grader determined to learn accounting to sell and earn a profit selling candies to my classmates to the thirty-something ready to take on the world in a new business venture selling handmade beauty products and services to the wider community.
Thank you for reading.
Photo slide show of my studies in India.
Related Sites/Posts:
Emerging Entrepreneurs Scholarship at Monroe Community College
From U.S. to India?
My Indian Ammas
Thank you for reading and participating!!!
References on Culture Shock from Alaivani (my website):
An American in Ecuador
Cross Cultural Experiences – Keeping it in Context
Educational Entrepreneurship: The First American To Matriculate at Madras Christian College
Honeymoon with Husband and his Family: Experiences in the Life of an Extended Family
How To Choose the Right Path in Studying or Living Abroad (Questioning how much cultural change can you handle?)
Integrating Two Worlds: Life in America with an Indian Twist
Is Mine a Case of Reverse Culture Shock?
This article has been published in the book Culture Shock.
Japan Through American Eyes: Joe Conley
On The Move: How have you absorbed Culture Shock?
Preparing for a trip to India to visit Family
Test Taking Trials and Tribulations in India
Yearning to Return (Why I want to go back to India.)
Relearning How to Communicate (Interactions in an Intercultural Family)
Others thoughts and experiences:
Culture Shock- Moving Back to India by Isheeta Sanghi
A Returning Indian Entrepreneur Reflects
Thank you for reading and participating in this journey with me! E-mail me with your comments, questions or feedback!