I am back in the US this week to visit family and friends. My house in the US is in a small town in northwest Arkansas, a lovely southern state known for good barbeque, lots of lakes, home to the famous Buffalo National River, long summer evenings and icy winters, and the Razorbacks (the mascot of the University of Arkansas, my Alma Mater). The whole corner of the state where my house is has about 463,000 people in it when the last census was taken in 2010. But my little town has about 21,500 people currently residing in its borders. All in all, it is a lovely place to live with lots of arts, parks, and events. I do sometimes long for this region of the world while living in busy, people filled India so I venture home whenever I get the chance.
It is important to note that my little town of 21,500 people is composed of approximately 6% Asian Indian thanks in part to a local Information Systems group which is part of a large US based retail company located in this town.
So, last night I was taking a relaxing walk enjoying the sunset and the cooler, breezy weather of my home town happy to be here with all my creature comforts when I turned into a neighborhood several blocks from my house. I saw an older Indian couple walking towards me enjoying the night air too. The woman was dressed in a beautiful sari and she had a bright red Bindi dot on her forehead in honor of her status as a married woman, or in some Indian groups in honor of her third eye (or her chakra). The man was walking in typical Indian evening style, hands clasped behind his back, deep in contemplation. Neither was talking instead they appeared to be taking their nightly stroll. I had to smile to myself when I realized they left India to come to America. I left America to come to India.
As they approached me both of them smiled kindly but said nothing. So, I bowed slightly with my hands raised close to my face and greeted them with a friendly, "Namaste."
Both of them stopped. I mean STOPPED with their mouths open. Then both, at exactly the same time said, "Namaste" back to me with huge widen smiles on their faces. I walked past them but I did overhear the husband say to the wife, "That was nice." Funny, if only they knew I lived in their country of origin and used this phrase regularly every day.
Just goes to show you how small the world really is. We have the ability to travel anywhere. Meet people from all over the world. And sometimes use common greeting phrases for people who might just be longing for their home too on a cool, breezy summer evening.
It is important to note that my little town of 21,500 people is composed of approximately 6% Asian Indian thanks in part to a local Information Systems group which is part of a large US based retail company located in this town.
So, last night I was taking a relaxing walk enjoying the sunset and the cooler, breezy weather of my home town happy to be here with all my creature comforts when I turned into a neighborhood several blocks from my house. I saw an older Indian couple walking towards me enjoying the night air too. The woman was dressed in a beautiful sari and she had a bright red Bindi dot on her forehead in honor of her status as a married woman, or in some Indian groups in honor of her third eye (or her chakra). The man was walking in typical Indian evening style, hands clasped behind his back, deep in contemplation. Neither was talking instead they appeared to be taking their nightly stroll. I had to smile to myself when I realized they left India to come to America. I left America to come to India.
As they approached me both of them smiled kindly but said nothing. So, I bowed slightly with my hands raised close to my face and greeted them with a friendly, "Namaste."
Both of them stopped. I mean STOPPED with their mouths open. Then both, at exactly the same time said, "Namaste" back to me with huge widen smiles on their faces. I walked past them but I did overhear the husband say to the wife, "That was nice." Funny, if only they knew I lived in their country of origin and used this phrase regularly every day.
Just goes to show you how small the world really is. We have the ability to travel anywhere. Meet people from all over the world. And sometimes use common greeting phrases for people who might just be longing for their home too on a cool, breezy summer evening.
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