Extracurriculars for exposure to Indian culture

[Anonymous]

Alright, OP, one more thought and then off to get through the day: what about a trip to Dad's home in India? While I know you are looking for something more "everyday," I know many a kid whose interest in their family and culture was sparked by a trip "back home."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s fine. My daughters are the same. They’re happy, well adjusted and fully comfortable with their blended identities. Their grandparents immigrated from India and, like most third generation immigrants, their identity is American first, and their various ethnicities a far second.

My third generation kid gets called "white washed." I got called a "coconut."

All part of the assimilation process, I tell her.

By Indians or Americans? It's unclear from your post?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s fine. My daughters are the same. They’re happy, well adjusted and fully comfortable with their blended identities. Their grandparents immigrated from India and, like most third generation immigrants, their identity is American first, and their various ethnicities a far second.

My third generation kid gets called "white washed." I got called a "coconut."

All part of the assimilation process, I tell her.

By Indians or Americans? It's unclear from your post?

Desis of course

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s fine. My daughters are the same. They’re happy, well adjusted and fully comfortable with their blended identities. Their grandparents immigrated from India and, like most third generation immigrants, their identity is American first, and their various ethnicities a far second.

My third generation kid gets called "white washed." I got called a "coconut."

All part of the assimilation process, I tell her.

By Indians or Americans? It's unclear from your post?

Desis of course

Yes, I am the person who made the comment. It is the assimilation process of immigrants into America, in this case Indians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s fine. My daughters are the same. They’re happy, well adjusted and fully comfortable with their blended identities. Their grandparents immigrated from India and, like most third generation immigrants, their identity is American first, and their various ethnicities a far second.

My third generation kid gets called "white washed." I got called a "coconut."

All part of the assimilation process, I tell her.

By Indians or Americans? It's unclear from your post?

Desis of course

Yes, I am the person who made the comment. It is the assimilation process of immigrants into America, in this case Indians.

And apologies - I may have misunderstood your question. You were asking who is doing the calling? In my case, Americans with Indian heritage and Indians from India. (Can you imagine an American using the word coconut in this context 20-30 years ago?) In my kids case, it's more than Indians.

[Anonymous]

chess classes

indian flute (bansuri) classes

major emphasis at home on academics/good grammar and spelling

a vegetable/fruit heavy diet of homemade food

a clean and uncluttered home

actual trips to india

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:chess classes

indian flute (bansuri) classes

major emphasis at home on academics/good grammar and spelling

a vegetable/fruit heavy diet of homemade food

a clean and uncluttered home

actual trips to india

Lolz

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:chess classes

indian flute (bansuri) classes

major emphasis at home on academics/good grammar and spelling

a vegetable/fruit heavy diet of homemade food

a clean and uncluttered home

actual trips to india

Lolz

What’s with all the flute recommendations? There’s a bunch of other Indian instruments but dcum pushes the flute hard. Who even teaches it in this area? Dcum is so weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:chess classes

indian flute (bansuri) classes

major emphasis at home on academics/good grammar and spelling

a vegetable/fruit heavy diet of homemade food

a clean and uncluttered home

actual trips to india

Lolz

What’s with all the flute recommendations? There’s a bunch of other Indian instruments but dcum pushes the flute hard. Who even teaches it in this area? Dcum is so weird.

Sick Indians

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:chess classes

indian flute (bansuri) classes

major emphasis at home on academics/good grammar and spelling

a vegetable/fruit heavy diet of homemade food

a clean and uncluttered home

actual trips to india

You want your kids to be tiny

[Anonymous]

NP here. I agree with all the others who mentioned Amar Chitra Katha comics. Add to that "Panchatantra Tales" and "Champak". I'm not sure if you get those here, try Amazon or an Amazon.in

Even if she doesn't like to sing, introduce her to Indian music (not just Bollywood - there are so many languages in India). For starters, I recommend any AR.Rahman playlists - he composes in various Indian languages.

Attend Indian music concerts (check Wolftrap)

Watch Indian movies (and again, Bollywood is not the only Indian movie industry. Lots of regional language films which are good)

Celebrate Indian festivals - this needs effort from you OP. There are Holi and Diwali festivals in the DMV. I know there usually is a Holi event in Germantown and a Diwali Heritage Mela in Dulles Expo Center every year. And who doesn't like firecrackers or sparklers? At SBAT temple near Green Meadows Farm, you can register and buy a kit of fireworks and they allow you to use them on site.

SSVT temple has an annual Food Bazaar. I know some people whose kids actually go to SSVT temple (Greenbelt) and Murugan temple(Lanham) not to pray really but for the food in their kitchens downstairs

The Indians who were raised here will be more accepting of a mixed race family and not as cliquish, so try befriending those moms at school.

Language school on Saturdays

I personally don't know, but have heard good things about Chinmaya mission in Silver Spring, Chantilly and a similar one in Baltimore

Have her volunteer at Indian temples (front desk, kitchen) for SSL hours and get exposure to the culture. She may even make Indian friends that way

Most importantly, visit India. How else will she get a feel for the culture? So much to see there. Make sure you visit the North, South and North-East to get a feel for some of the the various cultures of India. India is not just Bollywood and Hindi speaking people. In the North Eastern part of India, you will be surprised to see Indian people who look like Chinese.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You have got to be a troll. Why would you be so flippant?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not too late of an age to teach Hindi (or any other regional languages). Concentrate on language first. Incorporate other things in every day life. Take the help from your ILs and have a curriculum that you follow. If you do careful selection with ILs help, you can also find some Indian kids films and cartoons that can get her interested in Indian culture.

I agree language is important. My dh doesn’t speak Hindi well and I don’t see my in-laws so much that they would be able to teach her. Any recommendations for Hindi classes in Maryland?

If he doesn't speak Hindi and doesn't seem too into his Indianess and is much more into his Americaness why are you pushing this?