I had little shivers of delight while driving along Bishop Avenue to attend my first orientation class at SMU, because it was like a dream come true to come to another country and experience thier new culture. I had mixed feelings of excitement and apprehension. Excitement about attending this new University and apprehension about adapting to a new culture, probably very different from the one I was previously used to. It became very obvious that to survive and excel in this country I had to adapt very quickly to this different culture at SMU.
“Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet …” said Rudyard Kipling in ‘The Ballad of East and West’ written in the early 19th century. While the advent of the airplane, telephones, Hollywood and Bollywood, the internet and the human race’s new concept of a Global Community have made the boundaries between the two cultures more porous since Mr. Kipling’s famed essay, the cultures continue to be different. I understood early on that there will be some collision of cultures and that I would have to reinvent myself to become accustomed to the social settings around me.
My education in India mainly consisted of memorization with a lot of emphasis on theory. The curriculum was not only vast, but rigid as well. However, to survive in the country of SMU, I realized that I need to think outside of the textbook and curriculum to compete with my peers. I learnt that SMU offers a very flexible schedule that allows for classes to be chosen at suitable times. This varied class schedule allows for more interaction, which in turn fosters camaraderie and friendship amongst the Mustangs – the citizens of SMU. I had to adapt to being on my toes from the start of the semester because unlike my previous experience, the final grade is dependent on various categories such as, assignments, attendance, class participation, quizzes, mid and final term exams. Punctuality to class is taken very seriously. I was no longer on Indian Standard (or “Stretchable” as most people call it) Time.
Having studied in the conservative environment of a girl’s school, it was very difficult for me to interact with boys on a daily basis. I was taken aback when I saw boys and girls interacting so freely and having relationships considered very inappropriate in India. This same absence of boundaries existed between employers and employees as well. While this lack of boundaries between boys and girls, and employers and employees gave me a big cultural shock, I am very much enjoying this very informal and friendly relationship between the Mustangs.
My fatalistic “As God Wills” attitude would no longer work. Realizing that no one would make decisions for me, I had to cultivate the “Master of my own life” philosophy. I am adjusting to the fact that education will be required to take primary focus of my life at this age. In India I was only accustomed to interacting with students who were typically born and raised in the local city, as opposed to the interaction with students from all over the world in SMU. The global environment is helping me better understand the human race. Appearance is now secondary to performance and there is no time for useless frills. Old world formality is sacrificed for efficiency.
The importance of education is a common thread between the two cultures, both of which believe that education is power. A person without education in today’s world is like a person without any ammunition in a war. Educating both boys and girls is of prime importance in both cultures. Both Indians and Mustangs are very nationalistic and proud of their heritage and traditions.
Even with all the differences I think assimilating into the international environs of SMU will not be difficult. This global culture has evolved out of an effort to be efficient and goal oriented, both of which are the seeds of success in the modern world. The difference is basically the result of one culture being part of the “new world”, while the other being part of a “developing world”. Every other student from the east is going through what I am going through in one way or the other. It is very comforting to know that there are other Mustangs on the same boat. I strongly believe that a person should always mix with other people with different beliefs and values to better understand his own culture. Taking risks and venturing out is an important part of assimilating into SMU. As Albert Einstein said “The ship is safe in the harbor but that is not what it is built for”.
“Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet …” said Rudyard Kipling in ‘The Ballad of East and West’ written in the early 19th century. While the advent of the airplane, telephones, Hollywood and Bollywood, the internet and the human race’s new concept of a Global Community have made the boundaries between the two cultures more porous since Mr. Kipling’s famed essay, the cultures continue to be different. I understood early on that there will be some collision of cultures and that I would have to reinvent myself to become accustomed to the social settings around me.
My education in India mainly consisted of memorization with a lot of emphasis on theory. The curriculum was not only vast, but rigid as well. However, to survive in the country of SMU, I realized that I need to think outside of the textbook and curriculum to compete with my peers. I learnt that SMU offers a very flexible schedule that allows for classes to be chosen at suitable times. This varied class schedule allows for more interaction, which in turn fosters camaraderie and friendship amongst the Mustangs – the citizens of SMU. I had to adapt to being on my toes from the start of the semester because unlike my previous experience, the final grade is dependent on various categories such as, assignments, attendance, class participation, quizzes, mid and final term exams. Punctuality to class is taken very seriously. I was no longer on Indian Standard (or “Stretchable” as most people call it) Time.
Having studied in the conservative environment of a girl’s school, it was very difficult for me to interact with boys on a daily basis. I was taken aback when I saw boys and girls interacting so freely and having relationships considered very inappropriate in India. This same absence of boundaries existed between employers and employees as well. While this lack of boundaries between boys and girls, and employers and employees gave me a big cultural shock, I am very much enjoying this very informal and friendly relationship between the Mustangs.
My fatalistic “As God Wills” attitude would no longer work. Realizing that no one would make decisions for me, I had to cultivate the “Master of my own life” philosophy. I am adjusting to the fact that education will be required to take primary focus of my life at this age. In India I was only accustomed to interacting with students who were typically born and raised in the local city, as opposed to the interaction with students from all over the world in SMU. The global environment is helping me better understand the human race. Appearance is now secondary to performance and there is no time for useless frills. Old world formality is sacrificed for efficiency.
The importance of education is a common thread between the two cultures, both of which believe that education is power. A person without education in today’s world is like a person without any ammunition in a war. Educating both boys and girls is of prime importance in both cultures. Both Indians and Mustangs are very nationalistic and proud of their heritage and traditions.
Even with all the differences I think assimilating into the international environs of SMU will not be difficult. This global culture has evolved out of an effort to be efficient and goal oriented, both of which are the seeds of success in the modern world. The difference is basically the result of one culture being part of the “new world”, while the other being part of a “developing world”. Every other student from the east is going through what I am going through in one way or the other. It is very comforting to know that there are other Mustangs on the same boat. I strongly believe that a person should always mix with other people with different beliefs and values to better understand his own culture. Taking risks and venturing out is an important part of assimilating into SMU. As Albert Einstein said “The ship is safe in the harbor but that is not what it is built for”.
