I’m going to spend a few days in Melbourne. I’ll be visiting new friends and old — some Indian friends who have moved to Melbourne, an Australian friend who will be moving to India, and some dear friends that I’ve known for years.
It’s the strangest feeling, knowing that Melbourne isn’t my home anymore. I shared a decade of my life with the city. My 20s! We lived together though plenty of ups and downs. However, last time I returned to Australia, I wistfully severed my ties with Melbourne. I finally sold off and packed up my belongings, and moved what was left of them back to my parents’ house in the country. I still have a house in Melbourne, but it’s rented to friends. My bedroom is someone else’s bedroom.
There is now distance between the city that was once so familiar to me. My close relationship with Melbourne is over. I feel quite displaced, knowing I have to rely on friends for accommodation there. However, it’s also given me closure and freedom. I’m not tied to the past anymore.
Being back in Australia this time feels very different. Previously, every time I came home, there was more uncertainty than certainty. I was struggling to give up what was comfortable to me and head into the unknown. Now, I truly feel like I’m a part of both countries — Australia and India. In many ways, they are the opposite of each other. However, I can appreciate their good and bad qualities, and feel so fortunate to be getting the best of both worlds. And yes, I miss India very much, just like I miss Australia!
Photo: www.flickr.com user randomidea
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“It’s those Indian perceptions and misconceptions again.
”
It’s fair to say- “It’s those universal perceptions and misconceptions again.
”
Huh? Universal perceptions about mini skirts?
“Huh? Universal perceptions about mini skirts?”
This issue is more universal in nature. It’s got to do with decency and the amount of skin show that a society considers tolerable. Were you allowed to wear mini-skirts to office in your previous accounting job or did you have a designated dress code?
Oh, for sure the issue is universal in nature (about what a particular society considers tolerable), but the perception about miniskirts is India based. ie. Indian society generally perceives it “bad” if women dress in miniskirts compared to salwaar kameez. Which is a misconception, because the woman may not be bad at all. But of course, I’m NEVER going to wear a miniskirt in India so it doesn’t matter!
When I was in my early 20s, I used to have a few suits with very short skirts!
That’s what I mean, the interface that I use gives me more options. Otherwise I think you can do it by using HTML. ?
Oh, for sure the issue is universal in nature (about what a particular society considers tolerable), but the perception about miniskirts is India based. ie. Indian society generally perceives it “bad” if women dress in miniskirts compared to salwaar kameez. Which is a misconception, because the woman may not be bad at all. But of course, I’m NEVER going to wear a miniskirt in India so it doesn’t matter!
When I was in my early 20s, I used to have a few suits with very short skirts!
‘Bad’ is a very bad term!
It’s related to conservative societies and not India in particular. The perception is wrong, no doubt. I’ll tried out the HTML command , lets see if it works. Abdullah too was formatting his comments, I thought maybe there was a particular technique.
Yipee! It works.
Lemme try out a few more HTML commands
Amit Kumar
Sharell and Pradeep
Din work.Seems like only the paragraph formatting commands work. Amit Kumar was supposed to be in blue and Sharell and Pradeep in red.
Ah…mums are always concerned.
From what I’ve heard, Gujarat also has an unnatural shortage of alcohol. Perhaps that leaves the Gujaratis are very bored, what with the “all work and no play” culture.
My point is, wearing mini skirts does not mean a woman is indecent or undeserving of respect. What the society thinks is not my business.
I am sure if her office would not allow miniskirts, it wouldn’t allow guys wearing cargoes and tees either. That wouldn’t mean wearing cargoes or tees is indecent. For the record, women wearing miniskirts to office is no big deal in Europe or South America. The Indian attitude against miniskirts is quite hypocritic considering the traditional Indian dresses were no less revealing.
That was in response to your claim that “Mini skirts will take decades to be considered IN”. There doesn’t appear to be any more comment(s) about miniskirt following that, till I responded. Ah well…
My point is, wearing mini skirts does not mean a woman is indecent or undeserving of respect. What the society thinks is not my business.
You live in a free society, you are free to do as you please. For someone who’s trying to fit into a new culture, it’s advisable to follow certain societal protocols rather than trying to be a rebel without a cause.
I am sure if her office would not allow miniskirts, it wouldn’t allow guys wearing cargoes and tees either. That wouldn’t mean wearing cargoes or tees is indecent. For the record, women wearing miniskirts to office is no big deal in Europe or South America. The Indian attitude against miniskirts is quite hypocritic considering the traditional Indian dresses were no less revealing.
Unless the attitude of the people in the sub-continent changes, things will continue to be the way they are. A mini skirt being indecent is not my personal opinion.I am only aiding Sharell in understanding the society
That was in response to your claim that “Mini skirts will take decades to be considered IN”. There doesn’t appear to be any more comment(s) about miniskirt following that, till I responded. Ah well…
Check out the same blog post where I made the claim and read it properly once again especially the P.S part.
Married women wearing mini dress would attract wrong attention. So does unmarried women.
Congratulations on moving to the Hiranandani Gardens.Your living environment issues too have gotten resolved, all within a short span of two years!
I love the mini dress or skirt!
Does that make me a bad person? I just love it cause it outlines a woman’s feminity and compliments her body in a nice way. What’s wrong in that?
I love the mini-skirt too Claudia, specially when it’s on a woman with gorgeous legs!
It isn’t a considered a decent wear in the Indian sub-continent because it exposes a lot of skin.Nothing wrong/bad about wearing it though.
Thanks!
I think 2008 way about accepting, 2009 was about adapting, and 2010 will be about enjoying. Hanging in there has paid off.
It’s not really a big deal here (in Australia either). The interesting thing is how different cultures deem different body parts more risque than others. For example, in Australia showing the stomach is considered to be much more revealing than showing a bit of leg! However, in India, stomachs are hanging out everywhere when women wear saris. So many of my friends and relatives haven’t felt comfortable showing their stomachs when putting on a sari in India.
Oh for sure, I think they definitely need more excitement in their lives!
Mini skirts and stomachs hanging out in Visiting Melbourne!
Wow!
Stomachs hanging out??? So, it means, even overweight women in India wear revealing saris? And no one tells them to cover that less pleasant part?
Dear Sharell and Claudia ,
I visited Russia in 2006 . At that time I was quite overweight and obese . In Russia every second or third girl I saw was beautiful and gorgeous .
I was extremely sad and disappointed because of my overwight physique . I realised that to marry a Russian girl I have no other option but to reduce weight . I then decided to reduce my weight . I reduced my weight from a hefty 95 kg to a slim 65 kg . I lost 30 kgs in six months .
We Indians unforunately have a genetic make up that makes us more vulnerable to diabetes ,heart disease and obesity . Indians fatten up quickly even on grass . India is the world capital of diabetes and heart disease .
Exposing the “midriff” is considered bad even in India . My mother is a Marathi brahmin lady , but she never wears a saree . My mother considers saree to be a reveaing outfit that exposes the female figure .
My mother wears only “salwaar kameez” or Punjabi suit . My mother is very conserative in her dressing . She doesn’t even like women wearing sleeveless dresses .
Stomachs hanging out??? So, it means, even overweight women in India wear revealing saris? And no one tells them to cover that less pleasant part?
The younger generation usually conforms to the Western way of clothing, Saris are worn only on special occasions. The older generation prefers the sari as their daily wear and they aren’t all that beauty conscious.
I like your attitude. If you got ‘em, flaunt ‘em as I say!
I think genetics is a poor excuse. If you eat more calories than you burn up, you are bound to get fat. Indians started being vulnerable to heart diseases, obesity and diabetes only in the last couple of decades. That too is limited to the urban and semi-urban middle class population who eat a “farmer’s diet” but hardly exert themselves enough to compensate it. Anyway, congratulations on your losing 30 kgs.
Dear Sharell ,
I am a little disappointed by your double standards . You failed to censure “Hypocrite” for her rubbish , biased Anti-Indian remarks , but buckled under pressure when Americans like D.Jain protested my Pro-Russian remarks .
Research that shows that eating western diet would increase the chances of a person becoming obese and other serious health problems.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170695.php
To remain healthy as the doctors say, eat a lot of grains, fruits and vegetables. Eating a lot of fruits is good for your skin. Especially fruits like apples, oranges. 3 to 5 servings of fruits and vegetables everyday is recommended. If you are a non-veg eating enough fish is good for the nervous system.
Shaunak, Hypocrite was never Anti Indian. She was only Anti Men who don’t respect women.
Your pro Russia attitude needs a blog of it’s own. Tell us the day you write your first post. You’ll have many followers!
Maybe we could all recommend Shaunak to the post of India’s Ambassador to Russia.
A minor correction- Maybe we could all recommend Shaunak for the post of India’s Ambassador to Russia.
There is a big difference! This blog has nothing to do with Russia!!
Amit Kumar, you’re too late bro. I’ve already recommended for Shaunak to be made the next PRESIDENT of Russia.
Thanks Abdullah! Actually, it can get to be a problem at times this attitude of mine. I was thinking while reading all these comments that I can adjust to anything in India after all: the staring, the way people talk, the traffic, the pollution, the weather, the food etc. But one thing I will have problems in adapting to will be clothes.
I think of my clothes as an extension of my personality. I love what I wear now, I love all my tank tops, mini skirts, tight-ass jeans and high stilettos. I like the sari too – it;s elegant, its feminine, I would love to wear it. But salwar kameez, no. It looks like a sack. I am quite small and thin, so I wouldn’t love to wear that “sack”. But again, will be difficult to expose my legs in India by wearing a mini dress
I will have to relinquish it when I come there, I have no other choice…
Amit Kumar, you’re too late bro. I’ve already recommended for Shaunak to be made the next PRESIDENT of Russia.
Not long before US-Russia ties hit new lows if that happens Ramit.
Ha ha ha ha ha!
But salwar kameez, no. It looks like a sack. I am quite small and thin, so I wouldn’t love to wear that “sack”.
Dear Claudia ,
I study in Pune . I know a Russian girl named Ekaterina . Ekaterina studies MBA at the SIBM ( Symbiosis institute of Business Management ) . Ekaterina is a petite Russian beauty about 5 feet tall . She ( Ekaterina ) wears casual western wear and also “Salwaar Kameez” . A woman can look pretty even in Salwar Kameez . Punjabi girls are the most pretty women in India and they ( Punjabi Girls ) wear “Salwar Kameez “. I asked Ekaterina why she prefers to wear Salwaar Kameez , to which she frantically replied that wearing the local dresses and observing local customs would give her more acceptance in the Indian society .
Today, Pune is known as ” Oxford of the East ” Pune also has a growing industrial base with many information technology and automotive companies setting up factories in Pune district. These activities and job opportunities attract migrants and students from all over India, and also attract students from Middle-East, Iran, Eastern Europe ( Russia ) South-East Asia which makes for a city of many communities and cultures.
There are many Russian students enrolled in Pune Universities . After completing my graduation I would like to pursue MBA in Marketing and Finance from the SIBM ( Symbiosis Institute of Business Management )
For a woman height is not important . What matters the most in a woman is her character , family values and good looks ( fair complexion , chiselled features etc . ) A girl who has the above mentioned qualities , but lacking in height can still find a tall , handsome guy .
Russian plane maker Sukhoi will be setting up an aircraft manufaturing plant at Nagpur , Maharashtra . Sukhoi’s plant will manufacture 100 to 120 seater aircraft in India and also components for aircraft,” . The aircraft, proposed to be manufactured at the Nagpur SEZ, will be in the Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 category. “These will be state-of-the-art aircraft which will be more fuel efficient and will have advanced navigation and safety features .”
The Vavasi Group also has a tie-up with the Al-Bukhari Group of Malaysia which is into the aviation sector, “This will not only mean the biggest investment so far in the MIHAN SEZ but will also create more jobs in the region,”
Sukhoi will be the fourth aviation related company after Boeing, Tata Group company TAL, and US based Bravia to evince interest in the MIHAN SEZ.
While TAL has already set up its unit at the SEZ, Boeing is in final stages of tying up a deal with the Maharashtra Airport Development Company Limited (MADC), the nodal agency for the development of the MIHAN SEZ. Bravia is also in the process of finishing the formalities for setting up a maintenance, repair and overhaul base here.
The MIHAN SEZ in Nagpur , Maharashtra is expected to create 150,000 jobs . All in all I see a great future for my home state Maharastra ( My mother is a Marathi and I was born in Maharashtra ) .
Shaunak, I like the fact that I am small. I wouldn’t like to be tall. Being petite is feminine, it doesn’t bother me at all.
And I agree some women look wonderful in salwaar kameez. It’s not about the cloth, it’s about how you wear it. A woman can look beautiful and sexy even in Arabic abhaiya or in men costumes, everyone knows that. It’s because they feel confident and radiant in that specific attire. But I simply don’t think I will feel attractive in salwaar kameez. And if I won’t feel attractive, definitely I won’t be either. But I never wore one, so I can’t know for sure…
What matters the most in a woman is her character , family values and good looks ( fair complexion , chiselled features etc . )
Does anyone else find this statement racist?
Not necesarily. It’s his own taste. Although I do believe the looks matters the least in a relationship.
Dear Amit Kumar ,
“Not long before US-Russia ties hit new lows if that happens Ramit ”
My uncle who lives in USA told me that Americans are crooks and mischievious people . They ( Americans ) can betray you anytime .
Never ever trust an American .
My uncle who lives in USA told me that Americans are crooks and mischievous people . They ( Americans ) can betray you anytime .
Never ever trust an American .
Very true Mr.President
. Though I have nothing against American society in particular, America’s foreign policies have always been hideous.Their claims of being champions of human rights are farce.
Russia should always remain India’s top priority.
In another two decades India will be amongst the top five economies. I would love to see the response
cont..
In another two decades India will be amongst the top five economies along with China,Japan and Russia/Brazil. I would love to see how the western nations respond to such tectonic shifts in power.
Oh no Amit, not another Russia lover!
Mr. President, Sir, (Shaunak), with due respect to your Uncle, maybe you should visit the United States once, maybe after you complete your graduation, before you decide if the United States are indeed crooked states.
Crooked states?
Amit Kumar, I like your attitude that hints of India being a super economy.
Amen.
As for now, I think we would be happy if we get 24 hours water, electricity, basic phone/internet in the entire country, smooth roads that do not break our car’s axle’s every other month, a decent public transportation system, a fast judicial system…
And finally, a five year plan of the honorable Government of India that actually is implemented in less than fifty years.
Sounds too good to be true na?
As for now, I think we would be happy if we get 24 hours water, electricity, basic phone/internet in the entire country, smooth roads that do not break our car’s axle’s every other month, a decent public transportation system, a fast judicial system…
And finally, a five year plan of the honorable Government of India that actually is implemented in less than fifty years.
Sounds too good to be true na?
Who says all of these need to be met to be amongst the biggest economies? I am talking about the power that comes with being a super economy and not the state of the internal affairs of our country.Though what you say is remarkably true.
Oh, for the love of God, if I never hear about Russia again I will not care. I will bet you anything that there are a plethora of blogs devoted to the topic of Russia that are dying for more commenters.
I am reading this blog because I want to read about Sharell’s experiences living in India and being in an intercultural marriage. Even if Hypocrites is making comments that people don’t agree with, at least she’s on topic.
Yes indeed D. Jain. Even though Hypocrite ji sound weird, she’s in love with India, indirectly.
On the other hand I think Hypocrite ji is venting her frustrations here which we all find a bit odd, dont you think? Reminds me of Gowsami ji. Both should be reminded that this is Sharells blog about her life in India, not a debate arena.
Sharell ji, I never meant to say I love Russia, but Amit Kumar bhaiya promised he’ll give me two chocolates if I say it.
Bhaiya as in brotherly bhaiya or UP ka bhaiya? I hope it’s the former!
Yeah and jokes apart, I plan to do good business in Australia some day dude!
You mean you’ll move to Australia? If I may ask, which business and why only Australia?
Bhaiya as in brotherly love. After all, I do like chocolate.
I have a very small export firm. Deal in Jute mainly. No plans to move anywhere. Researching new markets generally. No special interest in only Australia. But yes, part of the big picture of life.
Bhaiya as in brotherly love. After all, I do like chocolate.
I’ve just finished my graduation this year and you’re married! Guess I should be calling you Bhaiya and you should be the one sending me chocolates along with other goodies
.
I have a very small export firm. Deal in Jute mainly. No plans to move anywhere. Researching new markets generally. No special interest in only Australia. But yes, part of the big picture of life.
Nice expansion plans.
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