April 9, 2018 PEOPLE ARE RUDE ABOUT MY CULTURE! Hey Brandon! I met these girls at school and we hit it off pretty well. But then I started wearing this small dot on my forehead that’s called a “bindi.” It’s an Indian tradition. So, last week these girls came over to my house and started saying all this rude stuff about my bindi, like “Does that thingy hurt?” or “That’s sooo weird!” It made me SO mad! What do I do about people who don’t understand my culture, and is there anybody out there who gets it? Culture Shock Catastrophe Hey Culture Shock Catastrophe, Yeah, that does sound pretty rude. I’d even say insensitive, if you ask me. I might not be the best person to answer this. I think it would be super helpful to talk to someone who can identify with what you’re going through, someone who knows what it’s like to wear a bindi in the US. But since you asked me, I’ll give it my best shot! Depending where you live (like if you live in a small town that’s not very diverse, instead of a big city with a diverse population), your friends might not have ever seen someone with a bindi before. Now, just because they’ve never seen one before doesn’t give them the right to be all rude about it, and you shouldn’t have to be the one to educate them. But if you’re willing, I guess a brief explanation that it’s part of your culture and it’s totally normal to you would probably help. If people are really pushy and rude, I think it’s okay to say, “Look, I think that’s rude and you should stop making such a big deal about it.” I think the madder you get, and the more you make a big deal out of it, the more of an issue it will become. That’s not right. But I think the calmer you can be about it, the better. My grandma’s always quoting this writer lady named Maya Angelou who said, “When you know better, you do better.” So if it starts going down a weird road with your friends, I think you should take a deep breath and remind yourself that they don’t know better. Yet. But if they learn from you about what a bindi is and why you wear it, then maybe next time, they won’t be rude about it. You asked me if there are any people out there who won’t be rude about your culture. I’d say look for people who realize that you’re Indian and respect you for it. They may have already noticed the unique customs your family has. Or maybe your mom wears a bindi, and they’ve seen that. So hopefully they’ll be nicer than the people who were rude to you. You could even mention the bindi yourself, if you want to get it out of the way. Like, “Hey, check it out. I started wearing a bindi. It’s an Indian tradition. You can look it up if you want to know more.” But, I realize how exhausting it must be to explain your culture all the time. So only mention it if you want to. Hopefully people will get the hint that you’re not going to give a four-hour seminar on the significance of the bindi! 🙂 Do you have a cultural tradition others don’t understand? How do you respond when people do stuff that YOU don’t understand? Tell us in the comments!
Aquadolphin 57 says April 21, 2018 at 2:02 pm I am Indian too! Sometimes when I wear bindis or henna to school people question me about it. if they are rude, they don’t deserve someone as awesome as you. Bindi power!!
Meowing Parrot says April 21, 2018 at 10:34 am Hey! I understand what you’re talking about up there. I am from a christian family, but we don’t go to church and read the bible and stuff. I am pretty confused, because I might have NO religion! Keep going strong! :3
Kitty kat says April 21, 2018 at 3:16 am Girl these people r just so mean find some people that understand ur culture I love ur culture☺
Sapphire_003 says April 20, 2018 at 11:43 pm Hey, I am just like you, I am an Indian who have moved from India to the United Sates. But don’t worry there are other people like you, even some of my Indian friends feel like that too. Remember, our culture is not weird and neither are others, just be yourself.
Pastel gumdrop says April 20, 2018 at 5:22 pm don’t worry. You can make friends with some Indians you will understand and have a bindi too!
DORK DIARIES BIG FAN says April 20, 2018 at 12:15 pm I ALSO WERE BINDI IN MY CULTURE.BUT I KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO YOU.
dogDork says April 20, 2018 at 5:47 am No offence, but you just have to smile and deal with it! There’s always gonna be good and bad in people and you have seen both sides, so what you need to do is find the good, explain what a “bindi” is and stop worrying about these girls. Hope that helped! xx
AJVS says April 20, 2018 at 12:33 am I know how you feel sometimes I feel like I’m the only one different but sometimes being different is good I found some Freinds who understood what I was going through and I hope you do as well good luck
Anonymous says April 19, 2018 at 9:51 pm I get it. Chances are, when you least expect it, you’ll find great friends. That’s what happened to me with my friends. 🙂
#mynameisJEFF! says April 19, 2018 at 5:51 pm I also wear a bindi! But only for special occasions. . .
Bleh not exactly but forgotten says April 19, 2018 at 12:11 pm Hey, I need some advice I had a bestie. We used to be together in almost everything I mean we were in different schools but still we used to talk everyday. But a few weeks ago he became friends with a girl who and i are not exactly besties (I hate her and she hates me but we act like we like each other in front of each other) and today was his birthday and he totally ignored me there at the party and I made an excuse and left early.. I don’t understand did forget me??
#girly girl says April 19, 2018 at 6:44 am OMG that’s just cruel! Why do people do that? No one should have to experience that, especially not alone. I couldn’t have said it better myself Brandon! Srsly those people need to stop (technically) bullying you.
Diary girl says April 19, 2018 at 6:40 am I’m Japanese and I go to an Indian school so all of my friends are either Indian, Nepali, Bengali or Sinhali and yes, those girls should understand more about other culture before calling it lame.