I think there is an All Things Desi Manual that is sent to desi boys and desi girls before they are born. Some sort of cheat sheet that outlines how to be a desi including the appropriate career choices. How else did the vast majority of my ABCD desi peers become doctors of some sort? Or else they became engineers, some of whom became bankers and financiers. Clearly – I the architecture major did not receive, review or read the manual.
In fact when I was an undergrad, and I would sit with my desi friends in the “canteen” and a non-desi would come join us. Eventually the non-desi would figure out I was an architecture, not a bio, major and say something like, “Oh you’re not Indian?” Hhhmm – okay then …
And while I found architecture interesting and cool, I was not very good at it, but it was too late and (too expensive) to change majors – plus I didn’t know what else to do. Being averse to math and the sight of blood pretty much ruled the majors of science and engineering, etc. So I ended up on the marketing side of architecture - working in a family business. Sure, I may work hard and do a thorough job – I don’t feel satisfied and it leaves me feeling like I failed myself.
This is why I am so excited to work with Life Coach – to reset the clock. So the fact that is taking FOREVER to get my online payment to go through is very frustrating. I have received three cyber error messages from the Google payment server. Mean computer!
This bothers me for two reasons. One, I have wasted 30 minutes, but two, it is generally NOT a good sign to begin working with someone and NOT be able to pay them. Because I want to punch the computer, I step away and go into the kitchen for a Diet Coke aka Diva Cola. I come back to the computer and still don’t have a confirmation of payment from Life Coach’s automated payment system.
I am forced to write to Life Coach and ask her if I can send her a check. Maybe Life Coach’s first assignment can be to find someone to teach Desi Girl computer and internet sleuthing skills. Ugh. I just want to be happy, have a career that excites me and a man who loves me. Am I really asking for that much?
8 comments:
I am commenting on the one thing that has no importance in this post... Diva Cola! I love it! I also have an addiction to this wondering thing you now call Diva Cola! Maybe you should trademark this term?
Correction: **wonderful thing
Hey DG ... This is is the Geek from BLR again ..
Reg your usage of the work "Canteen" .. Would love to hear how/when you originally got to hear about it ... and the equivalent 'American' word/description you would've used ...
But 'College Canteen' definitely evokes so many memories for ppl from our generation !!!!!
:) :) :) ......
Dear JNKParmar -
I know right - Diva Cola - I know - it is the BOMB. I have def reduced my intake - but how I LOVE LOVE LOVE the DC. I will look into trademarking the term - oh for the love of the Diva Cola drink!!! ;)
xo,
Desi Girl
Dear JNKParmar -
If you are referring to Diva Cola - then yest - *wonderful* !!!! - indeed!
xo,
Desi Girl
Hello again Geek Guy from Bangalore -
I dont know how I came across this word. I am sure some of it is bc my parents are desi immigrants and I am sure they use British words that I just think are "normal" - I don't know how to spell grey / gray. I pronounce paprika like a desi, my non-desi friends pointed this out to me. I use the word loo.
I also think as I think back to college - the place we hung out in on main campus was a "canteen" - not a dining hall or lounge. It felt like a canteen - so that is what I called it!!!
From what I understand my alma mater has had some renovations - so maybe now it is a lounge or hall - but back then - canteen!
xo,
Desi Girl
re:Canteen
Second-gen desi-isms crack me up, especially because the second-genner usually has no idea he/she is using them. My husband had no idea that White people don't say "close the lights" and argued fiercely that it wasn't an Indian thing until he heard his mom say it in Gujarati. My BFF called her big toe a "thumb toe" and I almost fell on the floor laughing at her "But what else would you call it?!?"
I think I love them because they're like hidden vestiges of cultural differences, like how I use different words and phrases with my very rural father than I do with anyone else in my life, or suddenly say "pop cans" instead of soda cans when I talk about target practice with my brother. It's a little reminder of who you are and where you come from.
Dear Sara -
Since reading your comment I have been wondering what else I do that I do and don't know!
Thumb toe - that is so PRESH! But you are SO right abt us the kiddos (no longer kids!) of immigrants.
Pop versus soda - that is so funny and the debate in Minnesota, is it a pop can or a soda can. And yes they are glimpses into who we are, were and where we came from as we go to where we are going!
xo,
Desi Girl
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