Dance my life...

The title is in Hindi. Translate it in English is "We treat our guest like God."

very beautiful sentence. very beautiful

No offense to Sikhs. I just got this cartoon joke from my friend and I think it reflect part of Sikhs' image in Indian society.

Sikhs, or Hindi people call “Sardarji”, is a religious minority in India. When I met my first Sikh friend, our conversation is like the following:

A: I'm Sikh.
Me:Oh, you are sick? Why?
A: No, no. I'm not sick. I'm Sikh.
Me: (confused) Are you sick or not?
B: No, no. He is Sikh. It's a religion.
Me:Oh, ok. So…. you are Sikh….

It's very easy to tell the Sikh people because of their special dress. Sikh man would wear 5 scared symbols which called Five Ks' because they start with letter K representing Kakka in the Punjabi language.

1. Kesh or unshorn hair, regarded as a symbol of saintliness. 2. Kangha or the comb is necessary to keep the hair clean and tidy. 3. Kara or the steel bracelet symbolizes restrain from evil deeds. 4. Kachh or the soldiers’ shorts must be worn at all times. It reminds the Sikh of the need for self-restrain over passions and desires. 5. Kirpan or the sword is the emblem of courage and self-defense.

There are a lot to tell about Sikhs history but all the questions I asked to my Sikh friend are skin-deep.

Me: Do you wash your hair?
Sikh: No.
Me: What? You never wash your hair?!
Sikh: Only 3 times.
Me: 3 times a week?
Sikh: only 3 times in my life.
Me: Do you cut your hair?
Sikh: We can't cut our hair.
Me: so you have long hair?
Sikh: Yes.
Me: Can I see your picture with your hair shown?
Sikh:…

I have seen his picture displaying his hair, a very impressive picture. He told me that 300 years ago, Sikhs were a group of warriors protecting Hindi people from the enemy. Sikhs didn't shave their beard so they would have their look like lions. Ever since that time, Sikhs started their own religion. “This is not an easy religion. You have lots of rules to follow,”he said. “Only 2% of population in India is Sikhs but because of our special dress, many foreigners tend to think most Indians are like that,“he added. I couldn't agree with him more. The image of Sikhs was how I picture Indians before.

Though Sikhs were warriors, Hindi people now like to make fun of their look and tend to think they are not smart. They use the word “Sardaji” to mock at Sikhs. “Sikhs know that, but they have good sense of humor so they aren't really bothered,” said my Indian friend.

1 month and 5 days.

No kidding. Last weekend, I was on my way home and suddenly had the thought that I finally settled down here. With the chaotic traffic, deafening noise, and polluted air, I feel as easy as home. After all, India is not just these bad things. It took me 1 month and 2 days to adjust to India. But for Hong Kong, it was only 2 hours. The first month was not easy for me. I was striving against the environment. I had fever for 2 times, one time diarrhea and vomit, and after that, I was officially welcomed to live a normal life in India. Now I can eat street food without having serious stomachache. I can cross the road with little fear. I understand more Indian culture. The big problem for me now might be that I can no longer eat curry ever since I vomited a bucket of them…Indian curry is in no way like curry in other places.

Well, this is another planet for me. To have culture shock is as easy as to get a chewing gum. People say if you ask 100 people for their impression about India, you would get 100 different answers. I'll start telling the 101st one. India itself is a contrast so either you love it or hate it. I'm glad to say that I like it.

I reached Hospet Station in the morning, waiting for the bus to Hampi. At 5:00 am, the bus station had already waked up. It's a boisterous place full of walking vendors. They were yelling in order to attract, or you can say disturb passengers. Among those sellers, there was a kid moving around, yelling “Paper! paper!” Then he came to us, obviously a big target to sell English paper, said,” Paper? You want English paper?” He wrapped his head with a scarf, carrying Hindi and English paper. He’s a boy with big eyes, a smart little boy. Irina from Russia pointed at the paper saying, “It's not English. Are you sure it's English?” The boy looked at the paper and smiled, said “It's English!” He knew Irina was teasing him. “How old are you?” Irina asked the boy. “Six,” he said. “Do you go to school? You should go to school.” “Yes, I go to school. Do you want paper? ” “No,” said Irina. “You are waiting for the bus?” said the boy. He directed us to sit on a chair in the station, saying”You can sit here to wait for the bus,” then he walked away to sell his paper. When we got on the bus, he came up to say goodbye. “Go to school,” Irina reminded him. “Ok,” he smiled.

This six years old boy didn't go to school but selling paper. After arriving Hampi, I knew he is not an exceptional example. Children labor exists in different forms here. Some sell stuff and many of them are beggars. There were many children strolling on the street, asking tourists for one Rupee. They would just follow you and keep saying” One rupee please. One rupee please.” These kids are around 2-10 years old. When we visited an old temple, one girl around 5 years old came with her little naked sister shouting “One rupee. Photo.” She saw that we have camera and asked us to take her a photo. We took a photo for her and her sister. They looked at the photo happily, then handing out and saying “One rupee.” “No, I took your photo; you should give me one rupee.” We found a way to answer these kids. The little girl had an embarrassing smile and took back her hand. We also met a boy dressing like a clown to appeal tourists taking his picture. (pic right below)I took two pictures of him. He said,” Ten rupees.” I gave him one rupee. He took the money and walked away. Jose also took him a photo, but he didn’t give the kid money. The kid chased after Jose and shouted,” Ten rupees!” Jose refused him. ”I earn money by this! You should give me money!” that kid yelled. I actually think the kid was right. He dressed up for people to take pictures so he has the right to ask for rewards.

There were some kids asking for school pen or cookies. I bought a pack of cookies, and then a kid came to me for one rupee. I gave him a few cookies. He was ecstatic and ran back to tell his friends. All of his friends came to me to ask for cookies so I gave most of my cookies away.

This kind of situation is common in a touristy place like Hampi. No one tells them it’s not right to beg; even they try to earn money on their own. It seems that parents can’t care less about their own children.

However, in Hyderabad where I stay, I can easily see there are many children dress well, taking sedans to private school. This society is full of contrast.

Last week I went to do charity work in a primary school with some of my friends. Before going there, I have seen on TV and heard about these miserable schools with little resources. Yet seeing their situation in reality is different from seeing it on TV. It’s a small primary school with only 2 classrooms. When we went into one room, I was shocked from the bottom of my heart. I didn’t scream, because like what I said, you can see it on TV. Those kids sited on the floor, without chair, desk and lights. They put their bags on their thigh and that’s their desks. They write with tiny pencils. There’s no grade difference. Kids in different ages squeezed in one room. They were happy about our visit. We had great time together.

I don't want to comment the situation of poor children in India, nor give statistics to prove how pitiful they are. I just want to record realistically what I saw. Actually I don't really know how to help them. We shouldn't encourage the behavior of begging so when they ask for one rupee, we should not give them. Some of my friends are eagerly to cooperate with NGO to improve the condition of poor schools. Maybe this is the only way we can do for them now. But how about those street kids who don't go to school?