Some truly bizaare and interesting things I've encountered here

I'm not trying to put down the Indian culture or anything like that, but some things I have come across has either been interesting (in a good or huh? kind of way) or just downright bizarre. You be the judge. I've tried to attach pictures of each interesting and bizarre event, so just click the highlighted link.

1. I've seen families of 4 on a motorcycle, using it like a mini-van or a luxury car. A small child in front, second child behind Dad and mom sitting sideways at the back. In Canada, a child has to be in a car seat until they are like 70 pounds. Quite the dichotomy I must say! Now this isn't even something I see some of the time. I see this everyday, it's a normal everyday occurrence, it makes you feel kind of petty for wanting to update your small sedan for a large SUV just to fit your 2 children, when here, they are riding like this, because this is what they can afford.
2. It's only necessary for the driver to wear a helmet. See the link in the picture above to prove my point. I mean what's up with that? As long as the driver is safe, who cares about the passenger(s), right? India really needs to re-evaluate this law.
3. In the Hindu religion mother's line their baby's eyes with kajal or kohl. I find it looks bizarre and wouldn't this be bad for a young child's eyes? So many times I go to coo at a small baby only to find their eyes lined with thick black kohl, it is actually looks freaky.
4. It is believed and it is custom that before a child turns one their head is shaved. This is regardless of religion, because it is not a religious custom, it is because it is thought here that if you shave the child's head their hair will grow to be thick and beautiful. This is done to both male and female babies. I used to wonder why i saw lots of young children running around with bald heads. Now I know. I have very thick curly hair, and I wonder what it would look like if my Mom had decided to shave it. it's actually scary to think about it. HAHA.
   
5. I see men holding hands all the time walking down the street. And sometimes they are actually holding pinky's. These men are not gay. They just don't have any issues with affection towards other men. Can you imagine two straight men holding hands just because they are friends in Canada? Strange isn't it? Any straight man would freak out if another man tried to hold his hand. Here it isn't looked at as anything besides being friendly (but a man and woman holding hands here gets a lot of looks) !!! Muscles does not hold his male friends hands, and is it wrong if I am actually happy with that? HAHA.
6. Women have 2 ways they wear their hair here. Long and longer. And most of the time it is in a braid down their back. I think Indian women are gorgeous, but I also think their hair could use some style. Indian hair is some of the most gorgeous hair I've ever seen, long, thick, black, but when it has no style it just looks unhealthy. Women with short hair are considered less attractive and un-sexy or androgynous, case in point, my friend Paro wears her hair short, (check out my b-day pics to jog your memory) and she is always described to me by other friends as the boyish looking girl. She is beautiful and not boyish at all!!
7. It is very difficult for bachelors (unmarried women or men) to find a place to live in India. There is a mis-conception here that if you are single you are, less responsible, a party animal, and promiscuous. My one friend (an Indian American) was looking for a place to live and she was told by the landlord, why are you single, why don't you just get married? She is 21 years old. She was like, what does that have to do with me wanting to rent this place?? I even had this discussion with Muscles, because in Islam it states that being married makes men more responsible. I'm sure to some extent that is true, you do have more responsibilities. But I have met many married men, who are not responsible, and married women as well, but we were speaking about men. I firmly believe if you are a responsible person in general then marriage shouldn't make you more or less that way, you'll do the right thing no matter what.
   
8. The biggest thing I have a hard time wrapping my brain around is arranged marriage. I mean for the most part it works here, but i think that will change in 20 years as women become more educated and want to wait until later in life to get married. Also if you are over the age of 25 or 26 and not married you are considered an old maid. But my friend Labels wants an arranged marriage, all her siblings had love marriages but she, as the youngest of 4 children, wants to give her parents the gift of choosing her husband. So here is a conversation I had with her yesterday:

Labels: So I had 2 proposals today?
Me: Really, from where?
Labels:Well one is from an Indian, from the United States
Me: Wow, so tell me about him? What do you know?
Labels: Well, he makes 3 lakhs a month and works for Intel
Me: Ok, and...?
Labels: He has his green card.
Me: OK, but what about him? Have you seen a picture? What are his hobbies? Is he nice?
Labels: Nope, i haven't. Not sure. But what is 3 lakhs in dollars? Is that a good amount?
Me: well, yes, that's about $6000 USD give or take.
Labels: is that before or after taxes?
Me: I have no idea....but shouldn't you be wondering about how he'll treat you?
Labels: I mean, I'm sure I'll meet him and get a final say, but it's more important if he can take care of me and provide for our family.
Me: (telling myself to keep my mouth shut), Oh, OK, well don't jump into anything too soon. Do you think you're mom will let me have a crack at this guy before you decide? I worry about you.....

So yes, I respect the culture here, but that doesn't mean it isn't difficult, and if you know me, you'd know how opinionated I am. Before I left my mom gave me this advice, she said "Shelley, you keep your mouth shut over there, you never know what kind of trouble you'll get yourself into." HAHA. She knows me too well.

I want your thoughts on what I have just written? What do you think? Weird, bizarre or interesting? I love being in a different culture and learning new things, but admittedly some things are difficult to wrap your brain around. Just because I wouldn't do or follow most of these customs doesn't mean it doesn't work here. That's what makes the world so interesting, it would be a boring world if everyone looked the same and followed the same culture and traditions!