As you all know I have been studying Hindi for the past month so that I can better interact with my community. I believe it is important to speak the local language to show my respect by learning about the people who surround me. For a while now, I’ve been frustrated with myself because I have mostly been too shy to use my new language skills. I came all the way to India and I’ve still been speaking mostly in English! Now that my mom is here, she’s been giving me the tough love I need to speak Hindi on a regular basis. With every new person we meet, she encourages me to speak Hindi with them, and with each interaction, my confidence has grown.
Everyone has been more than willing to help correct me, to help me get the words out of my mouth, and even to explain parts of their religion to me in Hindi. When buying sweets, what was first a simple business transaction became a family photo shoot after I started speaking to the man sitting outside of the shop. I found out that generations of his family owned the shop and my mom and I met were able to chat with everyone who worked there.
