Skip to main content

Maids and Madams....

People in India take it for granted. Returned Indians feel uneasy and uncomfortable about it for a while. And, finally and sheepishily start accepting it. I'm talking about the "Sir" and "Madam" business.

Almost everyone in the service industry in India seem to have that respectful voice one would use in front of a royal court when they talk to you. In a restaurant, for e.g., you order a coffee and they go, "Your highness, Madaaaam....here's your coffee". Or something equally regal-sounding.

The first time my maid addressed me 'madam', I went "Huh, who me?". I didn't get it. What happened to my poor name which I have almost forgotten in the past months. Why the 'madam'? Sounded even feudal to me. And, strange. After all, coming from an egalitarian society like America, this reaction is natural. Right?

But, thou aren't protesting too much, you may ask? To be honest here, I actually kind of like it. You want to know why? See, I think this is pretty much the height of aristocracy I'm ever going to achieve in this lifetime, so......why not make the most out of it? I know it sounds petty, cheap, small-minded (ok, i'll stop stooping low here), but hey, aren't we allowed to have such pleasures once in a while?
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Mothering Business....

Quite a bunch, aren't we? Not only burdened with the responsibilities of raising new-age kids who are high tech, but come with nope, not even a "Parenting for dummies" manual, managing a challenging and dynamic job-front, dealing with the social aspects of the family like being the perfect daughter, a good sister, the kind neighbor, a caring wife, dutiful daughter-in-law et al. Add the mundane chores of cooking, cleaning, gardening, chauffering to this list and - I know, my head is spinning too. Easy now, let's sit down for a minute. Most of the current gen mothers that I know take their diverse roles to their heart, and try to make the best out of it. It's business as usual for them. No big deal, they would brush off. But, I always wonder if we're all unconsciously trying to be "Supermums", especially the huge task of balancing work and home. We definitely want to be out having a career or a job which is what keeps us sane and yet, no way ...
Read more

Human Needs and Relationships....Part 1

Let's admit it. All of us as adult humans have needs, wants and desires. At first, they have and will be at a basic sustenance level of food, shelter and clothing, and once that's done, it moves to many different elevations above. Also, it always starts with material things like money, car, house, job etc., then kids (and the heavy price tag that comes with them) etc. Think of it as the " taking " phase. At some point of life, when many hairs have been "grayed-and-dyed" after, we hopefully evolve to higher-order thinking like social work, helping/caring for others or spiritual quest etc. - basically, chucking the hugely inflated and egoistic "me and only me" out and replacing it with a big picture view of "what i can do for others", "how i can be useful to Mother Earth"  line of thought process. This would be the " giving " or " pay-back " phase. Sorry, life doesn't offer any free lunch, anytime, an...
Read more

The Humor Bone...

Is there really one in our body? Or, maybe it's just a wacky, weird word play on the actual "humerus" bone. Who says Science and Literature don't mix, right? Be that as it may, having the ability to laugh with (note, not "at") others is a great habit to groom, polish and whatever else you do for general sanity check. Laughing apparently releases endomorphins or "feel-good" chemicals in our body- that's what researchers say, not me. So, anything from clowns, funny shows, even if a pathetic physical tickle is what it takes to get a smile, would be fine. Now, bear with me on this laziest one in the history of analogies. Imagine you're at the bottom of a hill. Ready, set, this would your starting position. Moving up, have you noticed how it's so easy to laugh at external things, but not at ourselves? But, if we do want to get there, we got to travel a long way to taking ourselves a little less serious than others do. Rea...
Read more