(no subject)
So, someone in the family died.
Apparently, it was our "family leader", I didn't even know we had a "family leader" until my mom told me on Sunday. I tried asking her what exactly it was that the leader does but she wouldn't give me a straight answer. All she said was, "Oh, he's the one who can deem us proper Brahmans." And now, he's dead. Who's the new leader, I wonder? And why haven't I heard this before? WTF. I feel no sorrow and neither does my mom. I had no idea who he was but I am confused by the fact that there is a position of "Family Leader". It's so weird being so far away from family. I often hear all these reports coming in ("Vidhya is getting a baby" "So-and-so is getting married!") and I have no idea who the hell my parents are talking about. That's the price we pay, isn't it? I would say that my family, or my direct family rather, is by far the most disconnected family from the extended family because we haven't been to India in seven years while the other family members who live outside of India visit quite frequently.
I still want to know exactly what is a "Family Leader" and whose side of the family he was on (mom's or dad's?).
Today, my grandma makes up this whole new traditional rule: That I have to wash my hair before I eat. She says something about something else ending last night and because of that, I have to wash my hair. Again, WTF. A lot of what she says doesn't make sense to me but apparently, it's "tradition".
You know, I've heard a lot of people say that Hinduism is a peaceful religion. But I don't think anyone can judge a religion until they've actually lived it. Theory is one thing. But practice is a whole different thing.
I can't help but feel different. Very, very different. I've wanted to talk to my cousin, Priya, for a long time about this.She'd know right? She comes from the same family and grew up in western society (in Australia). Well, that's quite hard to do, considering I haven't seen or spoken to her since 2003 and that she's now finished college and living on her own. She wants to come to the States
I lead a strange life. I've spent half the time wanting to get out of this family and moving into the world on my own and the other half wondering what it would be like if I was part of a closer family.
It's one of the themes of my life, isn't it? Homeland versus The West. Tradition versus change. Conservatism versus liberalism. It's always been that way and I don't think I'm ever going to find a balance.
Apparently, it was our "family leader", I didn't even know we had a "family leader" until my mom told me on Sunday. I tried asking her what exactly it was that the leader does but she wouldn't give me a straight answer. All she said was, "Oh, he's the one who can deem us proper Brahmans." And now, he's dead. Who's the new leader, I wonder? And why haven't I heard this before? WTF. I feel no sorrow and neither does my mom. I had no idea who he was but I am confused by the fact that there is a position of "Family Leader". It's so weird being so far away from family. I often hear all these reports coming in ("Vidhya is getting a baby" "So-and-so is getting married!") and I have no idea who the hell my parents are talking about. That's the price we pay, isn't it? I would say that my family, or my direct family rather, is by far the most disconnected family from the extended family because we haven't been to India in seven years while the other family members who live outside of India visit quite frequently.
I still want to know exactly what is a "Family Leader" and whose side of the family he was on (mom's or dad's?).
Today, my grandma makes up this whole new traditional rule: That I have to wash my hair before I eat. She says something about something else ending last night and because of that, I have to wash my hair. Again, WTF. A lot of what she says doesn't make sense to me but apparently, it's "tradition".
You know, I've heard a lot of people say that Hinduism is a peaceful religion. But I don't think anyone can judge a religion until they've actually lived it. Theory is one thing. But practice is a whole different thing.
I can't help but feel different. Very, very different. I've wanted to talk to my cousin, Priya, for a long time about this.She'd know right? She comes from the same family and grew up in western society (in Australia). Well, that's quite hard to do, considering I haven't seen or spoken to her since 2003 and that she's now finished college and living on her own. She wants to come to the States
I lead a strange life. I've spent half the time wanting to get out of this family and moving into the world on my own and the other half wondering what it would be like if I was part of a closer family.
It's one of the themes of my life, isn't it? Homeland versus The West. Tradition versus change. Conservatism versus liberalism. It's always been that way and I don't think I'm ever going to find a balance.