short is just a matter of perception
Why must Indians try to put on an accent when they go abroad? I say “put on”, because nobody develops an accent a week into settling down in a new place. Are we really that ashamed or insecure of how we do things? I don’t see the Chinese/Japanese try to speak with an accent. In fact, they would barely speak English if they had it their way.
And it’s not like we do a good job of wearing a new accent anyway. The ones who develop it naturally, they’re fine. But the ones who try to put it on are stuck in a limbo between the Indian accent (or lack of one, to be honest) and the new one. They end up sounding frustratingly ridiculous to a limit that it’s just plain annoying to talk to them because you can’t understand a single thing they’re saying.
I’ll never get people’s idiosyncrasies.
It was interesting speaking to the cleaning lady yesterday about the weather here in Lancaster. She said it rains almost all the time. When I said that I liked the cold, but not the wet, she remarked “Then why did you come here?”. It’s not the first time I’ve heard of the weather being an issue with students.
It’s interesting to note how weather and climate seems to factor in for students here when choosing which University to go to. I’ve also heard it when talking to some of my American friends (not Indians going to America). I’m sure I speak for all Indians that when we consider just the University, we only take into account its reputation/rank during the decision making process. We take it for granted that we’ll “get used to” everything else, and skipping on a good University just because we don’t like the weather is probably the highest level of idiocy you can show as an Indian. Doesn’t seem to be the case here.
