Perception of one's high school days is very different for Americans and Indians.
From what I learnt talking to friends in the US (and of course from their movies), high school for American kids isn't usually full of fond memories. They remember the awkwardness of adolescent years, the group culture, being bullied etc.
From personal experience, from the many posts on facebook and again from talking to friends, most Indians remember their school days quite fondly and given a chance would love to go back to those days.
Why this difference?
From what I learnt talking to friends in the US (and of course from their movies), high school for American kids isn't usually full of fond memories. They remember the awkwardness of adolescent years, the group culture, being bullied etc.
From personal experience, from the many posts on facebook and again from talking to friends, most Indians remember their school days quite fondly and given a chance would love to go back to those days.
Why this difference?
Not remembering basic stuff taught in school or college is much more likely for a grad from India than someone from elsewhere. Giggling and gossiping at work is also lot more common for an Indian grad. Never figured the reason, although I have seen life in India and outside. The day I find the the reason, I may have the key for the next super power.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteAbout remembering basic stuff, I agree, a lot can be written about the approach to education and the system itself in India.
My experience of the giggling and gossiping has been different though. Perhaps it varies with the kind of work people do, but most Indians I've seen are pretty reserved at work and have to be goaded to speak up.
Just check the number of people tweeting at work - about things totally unrelated to work. Maybe you can ask those in your own social network if it bothers them or not. Unheard at my work place.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Tweeting at the workplace, while may not be bothering by itself to others, is definitely bad practice and doesn't help in productivity either.
Deletemost Indians I've seen are pretty reserved at work and have to be goaded to speak up.
ReplyDeletewell, not speaking up at work and gossiping are very different things -- don't u think?
You will notice Engineers discussing work issues in the hallway in such a relaxed manner that it would appear like gossip to a distant observer. This -- being relaxed inside work -- is not so common among Indian grads (I know I am guilty of generalization -- I hope I am blatantly wrong).
I still hope you will ask your 'followers' if tweeing at work bothers them in anyway.
Not speaking up at work and gossiping aren't completely disconnected. Yes, there are people who gossip a lot but do not speak up when required for real contribution to work. But there are also plenty of people who fall into the introvert category. They feel as much uncomfortable about gossiping/socialising as about making their ideas heard in meetings. This could be partly due to innate tendencies, partly due to the deferential attitude ingrained through the Indian education system.
DeleteI will ask my 'followers' if it bothers them, but given the handful of people who follow me, I don't really expect much coming out of it! :) If you follow me, please do add to what you have contributed here. Thanks!