I use the government bus very often. This helps me to connect with the people and helps me to understand the psychology of the people and gives me a view on the culture of the place. This happened when I was in India, a few years back. I was in a place called Chennai, for two years. It was December and it was raining. I was sharing my seat with a female who would be approximately around 20 years. There was an accident and the bus was struck in a traffic jam. We are grown to believe the concept that when we talk with our co-passengers, we intrude into their privacy. But this young girl did not seem to bother about all that and we struck a conversation. As the conversation flowed, she told that she had a weird friend who spent a fortune to have fun! I thought she was talking about party, love and pubs! But I was shocked when I heard the story. Could somebody do it or even if it was done would that be considered weird?
So what was the story about? Her friend, named M, was having a bad day. She did not know what was going wrong, she needed loneliness! She knew that could settle her real bad day. So she hired a taxi, asked him to go about the city and she spent a fortune for the ride. This friend of mine was shocked that could a female do that ever, but I thought it was the perfect thing to do! A drive with breeze on the face and time to be aloof could serve the best healer. Was the way weird or non cultural? I do not have comments for it, but I know that it was the most beautiful way to reconnect with life! And to end it, whatever connects with life is culturally correct.
What is culture?
This is the most intriguing question that can’t be just answered very easily. I was wondering how to define this complex word. That is when the most beautiful thing happened, an incident which I would remember all my life. I was walking along the path when I was struck by a ball. I fell down and was lying on the ground. I was very angry and got up on my feet to scold the one who recklessly threw the ball. As I was searching for the kid, I found him. I scolded him for his mischievous activity, but he kept quite. After some time, the kid explained. His explanation made me cry!
This young boy saved my life! As I was on the phone and talking, I did not notice that a hole had been dug for maintenance and I did not notice it. If the ball had not struck, then I would have fallen into the hall. I considered myself a cultured responsible person, and my culture made me shout at him. Then what would you term the boy’s culture? In any scenario, it is wrong to hurt someone, but if it is to save somebody’s life, then?
Culture is doing something which is right to our conscience and then which is right according to the society! So if you think you knew what culture means, then rethink about it.
This young boy saved my life! As I was on the phone and talking, I did not notice that a hole had been dug for maintenance and I did not notice it. If the ball had not struck, then I would have fallen into the hall. I considered myself a cultured responsible person, and my culture made me shout at him. Then what would you term the boy’s culture? In any scenario, it is wrong to hurt someone, but if it is to save somebody’s life, then?
Culture is doing something which is right to our conscience and then which is right according to the society! So if you think you knew what culture means, then rethink about it.
An ode to culture
Cultural Intellect, what does it mean to you? But I think before I go to explain that, I need to speak about myself. I am Sed, a different name indeed! Can you guess my origins? That is where my story begins! It is my origins that inspired this blog. I am born to American mom and a European dad in China! So this must have given you an insight into the amount of cultural similarities, differences, opinions that I would have experienced! I know that there are lots of blogs that discuss about the cultural differences, cultural shock and so on.
But the story here is not going to be about the cultural shocks that I have faced, but it will speak about the culture on whole! Read this blog to know about it all, for culture can never be expressed in one post, can it?
My friends asked the reason why did I name it ISCAR? The reason is simple, the name looks like I am going to write about something else, but here I have explained that I am going to write about culture. It is so similar to culture, on the outset it looks confusing but a small explanation here and there makes it a wonderful topic to look at. The name of the blog is an ode to culture!
But the story here is not going to be about the cultural shocks that I have faced, but it will speak about the culture on whole! Read this blog to know about it all, for culture can never be expressed in one post, can it?
My friends asked the reason why did I name it ISCAR? The reason is simple, the name looks like I am going to write about something else, but here I have explained that I am going to write about culture. It is so similar to culture, on the outset it looks confusing but a small explanation here and there makes it a wonderful topic to look at. The name of the blog is an ode to culture!
