• Dork World
    • Nikki’s Diary
    • Ask Nikki
    • Ask Brandon
    • Academy
    • What’s New
    • Meet the Author
    • Dork Diaries Books
    • For Teachers
  • Dorky Stuff
    • I Heart Writing
    • Videos
    • Fan Art
    • Games
    • Meet the characters
    • Fan stories
    • Calendars
    • Wallpapers
    • Party Kits
    • music
    • Dorks Around the World
Author:
Rachel Renée Russell

dd14-menu-booktitle

Dork Diaries Book 14

Dork Diaries

#1 New York Times Bestselling Series

 

Ask Brandon



Get the BOY side of things!
Dollarless Dork
Help Brandon!

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! 

Category: Ask Brandon nikki

Comment Guidelines

I’m happy to post your comments (as soon as I can) as long as you follow these 7 rules:

  • All comments MUST be on topic!
  • Comments that either request advice or offer advice will NOT be posted if they are OFF-TOPIC.
  • NO bullying or mean behavior!
  • NO bad language!
  • NEVER share your personal info, including your age!
  • Do NOT share links to other websites or blogs.
  • Make-Up a Silly Name or Post Without a Name (NEVER use your real name!)

Comments

  1. Limbo says

    April 21, 2018 at 5:25 pm

    I am Indian! I get it,

  2. 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!!

  3. 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

  4. Miss Granger says

    April 21, 2018 at 9:10 am

    Ignore them.They will get used to it.

  5. 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☺

  6. Indian dork says

    April 21, 2018 at 12:31 am

    Dont let them let you down.Indian are awsome!

  7. 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.

  8. 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!

  9. 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.

  10. 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

  11. i get the felling says

    April 20, 2018 at 3:21 am

    i couldn’t even speak proper English yet so… yeah

  12. 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

  13. 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. 🙂

  14. #mynameisJEFF! says

    April 19, 2018 at 5:51 pm

    I also wear a bindi! But only for special occasions. . .

  15. Anonymous says

    April 19, 2018 at 5:28 pm

    i feel bad

  16. 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??

  17. #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.

  18. 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.

« Older Comments
Top ▲
Ask Brandon a question

Get the boy side of things!

Hey, guys! Having trouble talking to the girl you like? And girls, do you ever wonder what boys are really thinking? I’ve got you covered! I’m here to give you honest advice from a dude’s point-of-view. Understanding the opposite gender doesn’t have to be as hard as Honors Calculous. As a guy, I’ve learned a thing or two about girls just by hanging out with my friend, Nikki. So, go ahead! Tell me what’s on your mind! I’ll answer a question each week and post one of the cool pics I’ve personally taken of the kids at my school.

Search

Brandon's Advice

Ask Brandon a question

    Ask Nikki Maxwell a question

    Freaking out about a problem?

    Nikki Maxwell's diary

    Read Nikki's latest adventure

    Recent Comments

    • LalaLoopsy toy lover on I NEED TO MAKE SOME MONEY!
    • ShareurdiaryBrandon on Brandon needs your advice!!
    • Sensitive dork on Brandon needs your advice!!
    • thecuteanddorkylittlekittycat� on Brandon needs your advice!!
    • Anonymous on NEW: PUZZLEPALOOZA!!

    WEBSITE MAP

    • What’s New
    • Nikki’s Diary
    • My Books
    • Ask Nikki
    • Meet the Author
    • Ask Brandon
    • Merchandise
    • Videos
    • Fan Art
    • Academy

    BUY THE BOOKS

    • Amazon
    • Powell’s
    • Barnes & Noble
    • Simon & Schuster
    • Books-A-Million
    • Target
    • IndieBound
    • Wal-mart

    DORK DIARIES INTERNATIONAL SITES

  • Brazil
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Portugal
  • Bulgaria
  • Greece
  • Korea
  • Romania
  • Czech
  • Holland
  • Latvia
  • Taiwan
  • Estonia
  • Hungary
  • Lithuania
  • Turkey
  • France
  • Israel
  • Norway
  • UK
  • Top ▲ · Copyright © 2021 Rachel Renée Russell · The Dork Diaries Series is written by Rachel Renée Russell and published by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing · Privacy Policy · Terms and Conditions