There was no need
As an Indian, whenever we meet old relatives the phrases "There was no need", "You don't need too", and "Oh my, you have grown up so well sense the last time I have seen you" are a common occurrence. I hear them every single time I meet a relative. At some point phrases like these no longer remain genuine and become necessary phrases one must say in order to avoid being rude.
I present to you a situation that every Indian American child has had to go through, and sometimes these situations can be very awkward. You get out of the car too meet that relative that you haven't see in a year. Inside you may be very excited to meat them because the have the best stories that you have ever heard and they give you the best advice. However, you dread the initial niceties. You meat them and immediately, as a show of respect you bend down to touch their feet as a show of respect (touching ones feet is a custom in Indian Culture to gain blessings or show respect), and before you can complete this action the reach down to stop you saying, "There is no need for this". You fall into the choice of deciding if they really mean for you too stop or if they are just trying to be polite and then carry on with touching their feet. Once this ordeal is over, your parents present your relatives with a gift, and again the relative says, "Oh you didn't have to get me anything", yet the internally are very happy with receive the gift and, honestly do expect it. Finally once these awkward situations are dealt with, we can get to the good part, the food and the fun.
This entire situation doesn't occur with just one relative, every single relative that I ever mean says the same exact phrases. When we consider that every relative says this, it is reasonable to conclude that there is nor genuine meaning in this. They aren't even being polite, these are just phrases they must say in order to not be seen as rude.
I present to you a situation that every Indian American child has had to go through, and sometimes these situations can be very awkward. You get out of the car too meet that relative that you haven't see in a year. Inside you may be very excited to meat them because the have the best stories that you have ever heard and they give you the best advice. However, you dread the initial niceties. You meat them and immediately, as a show of respect you bend down to touch their feet as a show of respect (touching ones feet is a custom in Indian Culture to gain blessings or show respect), and before you can complete this action the reach down to stop you saying, "There is no need for this". You fall into the choice of deciding if they really mean for you too stop or if they are just trying to be polite and then carry on with touching their feet. Once this ordeal is over, your parents present your relatives with a gift, and again the relative says, "Oh you didn't have to get me anything", yet the internally are very happy with receive the gift and, honestly do expect it. Finally once these awkward situations are dealt with, we can get to the good part, the food and the fun.
This entire situation doesn't occur with just one relative, every single relative that I ever mean says the same exact phrases. When we consider that every relative says this, it is reasonable to conclude that there is nor genuine meaning in this. They aren't even being polite, these are just phrases they must say in order to not be seen as rude.
WHERE IS YOUR MEME!?
ReplyDelete