July 22, 2004
Thank you, India
Just about one year ago I was on a train between Dehradun and Delhi when the kid who had been sitting nervously next to me finally spoke up and asked:
"you are from states?"
He went on to query me about American jobs, girls, motorcycles, colleges, and for better or worse he seemed to carry all the typical misconceptions Indians have about Americans (wealthy, sophisticated, promiscuous). At the train station, I gave him my email address and said goodbye, but never heard from him again.
Until last week, when I got a sudden Instant Msg from "cool_alone_guy:
cool_alone_guy (1:52:56 PM): are you abe okie
aokie99 (1:53:06 PM): yes. who are you?
cool_alone_guy (1:53:32 PM): I am deepak
cool_alone_guy (1:58:51 PM): Are you from usa
aokie99 (1:58:55 PM): yes.
cool_alone_guy (1:59:55 PM): Had you remembered me
cool_alone_guy (2:01:02 PM): i think so that you are director or md of the company
Turns out, Deepak was alive and well, and still thought I was a CEO, despite my claims to the contrary. He’s quite a student of the American way and is curious about every aspect of my life, never missing an opportunity to ask probing questions. Cross-cultural dialogue is always humorous, but when you add over-earnestness and the boldness engendered by cyber-anonymity you've got a recipe for comedy.
cool_alone_guy (3:50:24 PM): are you intrested in me
cool_alone_guy (3:50:47 PM): for doing a friendship with me
cool_alone_guy (3:51:25 PM): do you feel boarded to chat to me
cool_alone_guy (3:52:56 PM): Are you busy
cool_alone_guy (3:53:20 PM): I think that i am disturbing you
cool_alone_guy (3:53:33 PM): in your work
aokie99 (3:53:35 PM): no. it's okay.
cool_alone_guy (3:54:12 PM): are you busy
cool_alone_guy (3:54:23 PM): right now
aokie99 (3:54:30 PM): yes. sometimes. but i have some time for a little chat.
cool_alone_guy (3:55:01 PM): can i become your friend
cool_alone_guy (3:55:50 PM): pls answer me
aokie99 (3:56:10 PM): yes. it's good to have one friend in india.
cool_alone_guy (3:56:58 PM): i am very happy to chat with you.
cool_alone_guy (4:02:03 PM): do you have any girl friend and any affairs
aokie99 (4:03:05 PM): i go out with some girls sometimes. but no serious girlfriend right now. do you have a girlfriend?
cool_alone_guy (4:03:39 PM): I have friends
aokie99 (4:03:48 PM): i see.
cool_alone_guy (4:04:13 PM): how can you see
cool_alone_guy (12:03:42 AM): I feel gilty disturbing you
aokie99 (12:04:05 AM): it's okay
cool_alone_guy (12:04:47 AM): you have much work and hard work
cool_alone_guy (12:04:54 AM): to do now
cool_alone_guy (12:06:46 AM): You are the head of your company
cool_alone_guy (12:10:43 AM): Are you busy
cool_alone_guy (12:20:19 AM): Are you sleeping
aokie99 (12:21:48 AM): not yet.
cool_alone_guy (12:26:49 AM): You were not replying
cool_alone_guy (12:28:30 AM): Are you busy
cool_alone_guy (12:29:05 AM): you can send me the photos of us
cool_alone_guy (12:29:16 AM): on my id
cool_alone_guy (12:49:12 AM): Had you gone to Sleep
cool_alone_guy (11:49:54 AM): how many person are in your family
aokie99 (11:50:05 AM): 6
aokie99 (11:50:17 AM): plus 2 in-laws.
cool_alone_guy (11:51:29 AM): how many sisters do you have
aokie99 (11:51:37 AM): 2
cool_alone_guy (11:52:34 AM): Are they marryed
aokie99 (11:52:41 AM): one of them is.
cool_alone_guy (11:53:26 AM): You can live without them
cool_alone_guy (11:55:55 AM): You can
aokie99 (11:56:35 AM): i don't live with them.
cool_alone_guy (11:57:16 AM): but can you manage to live without them
aokie99 (11:57:41 AM): what do you mean?
cool_alone_guy (11:57:45 AM): they dont cry.
aokie99 (11:57:54 AM): no.
aokie99 (11:57:58 AM): not usually.
cool_alone_guy (11:58:35 AM): you dont feel that you should with your parents
cool_alone_guy (9:43:27 AM): Do you have any sexual relation with some one
aokie99 (9:43:36 AM): not right now.
aokie99 (9:43:49 AM): i am looking for a wife.
cool_alone_guy (9:44:36 AM): good
aokie99 (9:44:49 AM): do you have a girlfriend?
cool_alone_guy (9:45:05 AM): yes
aokie99 (9:45:29 AM): really. for how long?
cool_alone_guy (9:46:40 AM): it had been from last 1 and half year part
aokie99 (9:46:55 AM): apart? not together?
cool_alone_guy (9:47:38 AM): yes not to gather
aokie99 (9:48:15 AM): is it too early to have sex?
cool_alone_guy (9:49:09 AM): I not yet done any sex yet
aokie99 (9:49:30 AM): good. it's better to wait.
cool_alone_guy (9:49:45 AM): in us sex is common.
cool_alone_guy (9:50:53 AM): to do with any one
aokie99 (9:51:06 AM): for some people.
aokie99 (9:51:25 AM): but the people on TV and movies are wilder than most.
cool_alone_guy (9:52:25 AM): Do you see any blew picture
aokie99 (9:52:34 AM): what?
cool_alone_guy (9:53:09 AM): the necked movie
aokie99 (9:53:22 AM): naked movie? pornography?
cool_alone_guy (9:53:55 AM): in which the sex is shown open
aokie99 (9:55:53 AM): no, i try to avoid.
cool_alone_guy (9:56:03 AM): Why
aokie99 (9:56:04 AM): this is a waste.
cool_alone_guy (9:56:49 AM): yes it is the waste but some times for entertainment
cool_alone_guy (10:01:34 AM): What happen are you busy
cool_alone_guy (8:47:56 AM): Hi
cool_alone_guy (2:28:58 PM): Hi
cool_alone_guy (2:29:34 PM): hiiiiiiiiii
cool_alone_guy (2:30:42 PM): Are you there
cool_alone_guy (2:51:04 PM): Hi
cool_alone_guy (2:51:27 PM): Wan a chat
aokie99 (2:56:54 PM): i'm about to leave for the store.
aokie99 (2:57:01 PM): i'll be back later.
cool_alone_guy (2:57:29 PM): After how many hours
cool_alone_guy (2:58:08 PM): Tell me pls
cool_alone_guy (3:00:14 PM): Had you gone
cool_alone_guy (3:00:23 PM): or still there
cool_alone_guy (11:58:05 PM): Hi
This is really cool. Keep on posting them; it is always cool to get another look into how the world out there sees us.
Posted by: crabby at July 22, 2004 04:57 PMThat's really interesting, Abe. What were you doing in India? It's always surprising to me to hear how folks from other cultures view the US citizenry. I always want to say "no no, we're not all like that. Let me explain!" Unfortunately, the opportunity to do so rarely presents itself. It's cool that you could be able to help this guy understand things a little better.
Posted by: gosey at July 23, 2004 10:20 AMwe are truly the land of the free porn and the brave, sexually liberated women. at least that must be how it seems to them.
it makes sense, given that most hollywood products have some sort of irresponsible sexuality.
i was in india for a service project/mission/cultural exchange sort of thing. it was about 2 weeks.
Posted by: abe at July 23, 2004 10:51 AMmakes me miss my friends from india, who asked me about the strong black people in america and the people who shoot you for driving bad.
Posted by: jeremy at July 25, 2004 02:29 AMHi abe. I think that you should teach me some better english. You are kind to all peoples who are in touch with you. You try to solve others problems thats too good. I think That i do not know that how to talk with others. Pls teach me that thing to me. All other reader if you try to solve my problem then give me a message on my id.
Posted by: Deepak at August 4, 2004 02:34 AM