Dwayne, one of my coworkers from Orlando, has come to Chennai to do some training for a few weeks. He arrived last Friday morning, and since Saturday was a work day for those in the office, the plan was for him to stop by to meet everyone that day, but not jump into the training until Monday. The Indians I work with wanted to do something special to welcome him, and we decided as a group that we would greet him in traditional Indian dress. That was a fairly big deal for them, since the men always dress in a very western fashion, and the salwars which the younger women, and I, normally wear are not really the traditional south Indian garment.
But it was a much bigger deal for me, since I had never yet pulled out the saree given to me before leaving the US, along with the matching blouse that I had had sown here, and worn them. Part of the reason is that the blouse didn't really fit that well after it was sewn. And I wasn't sure that it could be fixed very satisfactorily. But I knew that I would eventually do my best to adjust it. Besides, the saree material would mostly cover it, so it might go unnoticed.
I asked my landlady, who has been wearing sarees all her life, if she would help me Saturday morning. She asked one of the servants who comes each morning to come early to help also, since she always fixes her own sarees so nicely.
I had no idea just much work it would be. As mentioned above, I basically just stood there and allowed the ladies to fold, pin, and wrap the lovely material around me. I did help by stooping at the appropriate times, I think.
Once everything was secured and I was pronounced lovely, I took my usual walk to work. It took a little longer than usual, and of course, I was quite self-conscious. A couple women made encouraging comments to me, some smiled in a friendly (but uncharacteristic) manner, but most amused me by pretending not to notice anything out of the ordinary. Come on, people, it would be very impressive to act as though this is how I dress every day of my life, but I know I'm not pulling that off!
Anyway, a number of people at the office knew of our plans, and I was greeted quite enthusiastically. The three lovely young women in the Human Resources Department had all donned sarees, also, even though Saturday usually calls for more casual dress (but still salwars). As they gathered around me, two of them asked whether they might make some "adjustments." After the long session at home, what was there left to adjust? But I allowed it, while nixing the idea of basically starting from scratch. Unfortunately, the pictures taken before leaving home were lost, so I can't let you make your own comparisons. I can't even say which was better, or whether you'd notice the difference.
In fact, I think I've said plenty. Let's get to the pictures.
This was taken right after my "adjustments," with Jerry, the receptionist; Jemimah, the only other female on the programming team; and the three lovely HR ladies. Yes, I'm a little taller, but otherwise I'm pulling this whole ethnic Indian thing off, right?
Here's the whole team. The men are wearing dotis; I wasn't sure the younger guys were really going to play along. But isn't it great?.jpg)
4 comments:
Fun post. My favorite line is "Once everything was secured and I was pronounced lovely." What a great country where one can be "pronounced lovely."
My favorite picture is the one with you and the Indian women--I love the striking height and skin tone difference.
Here's my question: are visitors to the country required to wear the extra piece of fabric over their right shoulder while citizens cover their left shoulders? Given the aforementioned height and skin tone issues--not to even mention the hair, I wouldn't think they'd be all that strict with you--surely they can't think you're trying to fool anyone.
Talk to you later,
Donna
Okay, I never should have posed with any other women, and you wouldn't have known. Apparently, that's the north Indian style. But I think it was done because my first fashion coordinators are used to doing it on themselves--I understand that it's hard for guys to tie a tie around someone else's neck, also--and didn't notice that it was wrong. The girls at the office noticed and wanted to start from scratch, but I wasn't willing. Besides, I really am from the north.
I guess I don't need to ask about the cloth going the other way now. It did cross my mind that it was because they were doing it on someone else, and therefore backward, but it seems like they would have noticed that.
Looks like Dwayne abandoned what he considers to be the American custom of smiling for photographs. The Indians seem to be smiling, more or less, though not nearly as broadly as Dwayne normally would. Did Dwayne just arrive from Hawaii; what's that thing around his neck?
That is a garland around Dwayne's neck, and it was part of his welcoming ceremony by the programming team. I think he was trying to be more Indian by smiling less.
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