Recently we looked through our Directory and realized that we have a dozen children whose parents are from India and another sixteen international children. What a gift they are to our preschool community!
Wanting to understand more about India, I talked one morning with Swetha and Khushi. Both have husbands who are IT consultants, both are educated in commerce (and Khushi in education, as well) and both are very pleased to have their child at Shadow Rock Preschool.
They told me that the hardest thing about being here is that they feel alone. Both were part of a joint family in India, an arrangement where they lived with their husband’s parents. The best part about American life is that they have learned so much, met all kinds of people, and experienced what they perceive as a very “social” America. I asked them how they are teaching their culture to their children, as it is important to both of them and eventually they expect to return to India. The first answer is that they speak at home in their mother tongue. Language holds so much of a culture’s information. They also attend a local temple, but it is a distance from where they live, so they have created a temple in their homes where they share religious education. Large religious celebrations are shared within Phoenix’s quite extensive Indian-American community. Traveling in Phoenix is a problem since we do not have very good mass transit. Typically, with only one family car, the moms feel restricted. Both said that without the transportation problem we would have many more of their friends’ children.
Both women think their own children’s behavior is improving because of preschool, where the young ones are so excited to have playmates and wonderful activities. In India children begin preschool at age 2 and by 3 attend regular school with entrance exams and rigorous academics. Another difference is that children are not allowed to call elders by their first names, but rather use the terms Auntie or Uncle. Older children learn four languages: Sanskrit, Hindi, English, and their state language. Beginning in 8th grade French or Spanish is added.
We talked about family also. Family get-togethers in India are very large. When all the children and grand children come, there are easily 100 people. For holidays 150 would be the minimum. Swetha is going to India for her sister’s wedding and over 3000people will be in attendance. It takes at least two months of preparation because gifts are purchased for all family members, cards are ordered and hand delivered, a menu is created and chef hired, a party hall is booked, the jewelry and traditional dress must be planned, henna artists hired and music chosen.
Our conversation ended because these two moms were off to share Indian foods and customs in their children’s classrooms. We are so blessed to learn firsthand about our most amazing world.
We Give Thanks!
