Extracurriculars for exposure to Indian culture

[Anonymous]

We are a mixed (white American/ Indian American) family. I recently realized that our 11 year old daughter doesn’t get much exposure to Indian culture. I am looking for some ideas of extra curricular activities to enroll her in to increase her exposure to the culture but do not want anything related to dance (she HATES dancing!) or religion (totally secular family). Any ideas? Tia.

[Anonymous]

Language classes and culture/mythology classes (they are stories about Hindu gods and goddesses but less of “let’s pray” and more similar to Greek mythology). Also music classes (Hindustani or Carnatic vocals, veena, tabla). See if there’s a kid cricket league near you

[Anonymous]

Bharatanatyam classes. Or Kathak classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bharatanatyam classes. Or Kathak classes.

No Dance suggestions please. DD despises dancing, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Do you have Indian friends? Go to Indian restaurants? What culture aspect are you looking for exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have Indian friends? Go to Indian restaurants? What culture aspect are you looking for exactly?

Yes. She loves chicken tikka masala but don’t most people? Looking for something more, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a mixed (white American/ Indian American) family. I recently realized that our 11 year old daughter doesn’t get much exposure to Indian culture. I am looking for some ideas of extra curricular activities to enroll her in to increase her exposure to the culture but do not want anything related to dance (she HATES dancing!) or religion (totally secular family). Any ideas? Tia.

She’s already 11 and has no exposure to Indian culture? That means the Indian parent has taken no interest in exposing her to any Indian classes (singing, dancing, instrument, religious) so what’s the point? It’s too late and your daughter isn’t going to keep up with it. Who’s white, mom or dad?

OP here’s I’m the mom (white) and her Dad is Indian American. It’s not that she has no exposure to the culture. We often go to the Indian wedding of family members and celebrate Divali with my in-laws, but that’s pretty much it.

That’s nice but that’s very little exposure. Does your DH speak his language? Does your DD understand or speak any of it? Do you guys cook Indian food at home everyday, like the authentic stuff? Can you or your DH teach DD how to cook? If not, it sounds like your DH is a typical whitewashed desi who is essentially white and hasn’t bothered to engage with his heritage, so how will your DD?

Maybe you can ask your in laws to be more proactive in teaching her things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have Indian friends? Go to Indian restaurants? What culture aspect are you looking for exactly?

Yes. She loves chicken tikka masala but don’t most people? Looking for something more, I guess.

That’s not even really Indian food 😂 It’s like calling General Two’s chicken Chinese food!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a mixed (white American/ Indian American) family. I recently realized that our 11 year old daughter doesn’t get much exposure to Indian culture. I am looking for some ideas of extra curricular activities to enroll her in to increase her exposure to the culture but do not want anything related to dance (she HATES dancing!) or religion (totally secular family). Any ideas? Tia.

She’s already 11 and has no exposure to Indian culture? That means the Indian parent has taken no interest in exposing her to any Indian classes (singing, dancing, instrument, religious) so what’s the point? It’s too late and your daughter isn’t going to keep up with it. Who’s white, mom or dad?

OP here’s I’m the mom (white) and her Dad is Indian American. It’s not that she has no exposure to the culture. We often go to the Indian wedding of family members and celebrate Divali with my in-laws, but that’s pretty much it.

That’s nice but that’s very little exposure. Does your DH speak his language? Does your DD understand or speak any of it? Do you guys cook Indian food at home everyday, like the authentic stuff? Can you or your DH teach DD how to cook? If not, it sounds like your DH is a typical whitewashed desi who is essentially white and hasn’t bothered to engage with his heritage, so how will your DD?

Maybe you can ask your in laws to be more proactive in teaching her things.

I’m not sure why you are being so mean to the OP. It’s not her fault her DH is whitewashed.

OP, I posted suggestions above on language, culture, and music classes. What say you to those?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a mixed (white American/ Indian American) family. I recently realized that our 11 year old daughter doesn’t get much exposure to Indian culture. I am looking for some ideas of extra curricular activities to enroll her in to increase her exposure to the culture but do not want anything related to dance (she HATES dancing!) or religion (totally secular family). Any ideas? Tia.

She’s already 11 and has no exposure to Indian culture? That means the Indian parent has taken no interest in exposing her to any Indian classes (singing, dancing, instrument, religious) so what’s the point? It’s too late and your daughter isn’t going to keep up with it. Who’s white, mom or dad?

OP here’s I’m the mom (white) and her Dad is Indian American. It’s not that she has no exposure to the culture. We often go to the Indian wedding of family members and celebrate Divali with my in-laws, but that’s pretty much it.

That’s nice but that’s very little exposure. Does your DH speak his language? Does your DD understand or speak any of it? Do you guys cook Indian food at home everyday, like the authentic stuff? Can you or your DH teach DD how to cook? If not, it sounds like your DH is a typical whitewashed desi who is essentially white and hasn’t bothered to engage with his heritage, so how will your DD?

Maybe you can ask your in laws to be more proactive in teaching her things.

NP here. Harsh! Not helpful and stop looking for someone to blame. NP is parent in family where both parents are Indian from India - these issues aren’t unique to families with only one Indian parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have Indian friends? Go to Indian restaurants? What culture aspect are you looking for exactly?

Yes. She loves chicken tikka masala but don’t most people? Looking for something more, I guess.

That’s not even really Indian food 😂 It’s like calling General Two’s chicken Chinese food!!

She also loves kabobs. Is that better? Dal, not so much. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a mixed (white American/ Indian American) family. I recently realized that our 11 year old daughter doesn’t get much exposure to Indian culture. I am looking for some ideas of extra curricular activities to enroll her in to increase her exposure to the culture but do not want anything related to dance (she HATES dancing!) or religion (totally secular family). Any ideas? Tia.

She’s already 11 and has no exposure to Indian culture? That means the Indian parent has taken no interest in exposing her to any Indian classes (singing, dancing, instrument, religious) so what’s the point? It’s too late and your daughter isn’t going to keep up with it. Who’s white, mom or dad?

OP here’s I’m the mom (white) and her Dad is Indian American. It’s not that she has no exposure to the culture. We often go to the Indian wedding of family members and celebrate Divali with my in-laws, but that’s pretty much it.

That’s nice but that’s very little exposure. Does your DH speak his language? Does your DD understand or speak any of it? Do you guys cook Indian food at home everyday, like the authentic stuff? Can you or your DH teach DD how to cook? If not, it sounds like your DH is a typical whitewashed desi who is essentially white and hasn’t bothered to engage with his heritage, so how will your DD?

Maybe you can ask your in laws to be more proactive in teaching her things.

I’m not sure why you are being so mean to the OP. It’s not her fault her DH is whitewashed.

OP, I posted suggestions above on language, culture, and music classes. What say you to those?

Those were great ideas. Thanks. Do a lot of Indian American kids take Hindi classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a mixed (white American/ Indian American) family. I recently realized that our 11 year old daughter doesn’t get much exposure to Indian culture. I am looking for some ideas of extra curricular activities to enroll her in to increase her exposure to the culture but do not want anything related to dance (she HATES dancing!) or religion (totally secular family). Any ideas? Tia.

She’s already 11 and has no exposure to Indian culture? That means the Indian parent has taken no interest in exposing her to any Indian classes (singing, dancing, instrument, religious) so what’s the point? It’s too late and your daughter isn’t going to keep up with it. Who’s white, mom or dad?

OP here’s I’m the mom (white) and her Dad is Indian American. It’s not that she has no exposure to the culture. We often go to the Indian wedding of family members and celebrate Divali with my in-laws, but that’s pretty much it.

That’s nice but that’s very little exposure. Does your DH speak his language? Does your DD understand or speak any of it? Do you guys cook Indian food at home everyday, like the authentic stuff? Can you or your DH teach DD how to cook? If not, it sounds like your DH is a typical whitewashed desi who is essentially white and hasn’t bothered to engage with his heritage, so how will your DD?

Maybe you can ask your in laws to be more proactive in teaching her things.

Haha, NP here, this sums up my DH too! I’m white mom and my kids don’t have as strong of an exposure to Indian culture either. I do think moms tend to be better at passing along heritage - through cooking, holidays, stories, language etc. Most babies learn language from mom for example. Or used to, I should clarify, maybe things are changing in that regard. PP had some good suggestions. Also, ask your in-laws to help! My DH is terrible in this regard but my MiL is wonderful and has lots to share.

[Anonymous]

Also, do girls also play cricket? I thought it was a boys sport.

[Anonymous]

Not Indian, but different mixed cultural family. Our DD takes Saturday language classes. It includes a lot of cultural activities. We drive a bit far for it, but it’s worth it to get the type of program that aligns with the cultural exposure you are seeking.