It was actually really hard to come up with a situation where I was mushfaking. Not hard because I don't (because let's face it, everyone does at some point in their life) but it was hard to come up with a substantial enough one to write about. I could write about small events or instances, but those wouldn't be enough to hit the word limit (lol don't lie we're all trying to meet 750 words!)
Because I've only had one job, and the internship I currently have doesn't really involve me mushfaking I had to dig a bit further to find something to write on. What I did come up with, was big family weddings or birthday parties.
By this I don't mean the gatherings or birthday parties for my immediate family, because I am very close with my immediate family! But I am referring to the big, extravagant parties with my whole extended family. Coming from an Indian background, gatherings are far from boring let's just put it that way.
My parents aren't very religious/in touch with their Indian culture, and so I was brought up without too much exposure to the Indian culture. While although we do celebrate some main Indian holidays, and do eat Indian food (so bomb), I don't usually go to too many gatherings hosted by my extended family unless forced of course.
Usually, I have to dress in more traditional indian dress (a sari, which may I add is so uncomfortable!) and go to a venue decked out in colorful decor and loud music. Bombarded by all this, I usually feel very out of place and I am constantly being come up to by family members that apparently know me very well and who I have never met! I have to make small talk at these events which isn't always the most fun, which most of you will agree. Indians like their music, and they like it loud... I personally don't really vibe with the music so mushfaking comes into play when pretending like I do. And since I don't speak Hindi and have a very limited understanding it is pretty hard to communicate with relatives! And the worst part is, if someone tells a story in Hindi and when everyone starts laughing I feel so out of place because I didn't understand it! And a joke is never as funny when it is translated...
But despite this, it is pretty nice to see family I don't see often and it is good to be more in touch with my culture. And be able to eat some yummy Indian buffet food, of course :P
Lol i know what you mean about big family gatherings. You have to act like you remember everyone and hold a decent conversation, it's a lot of fake smiling and laughing. well at least thats what it feels like.
ReplyDeleteThat's chill to hear that you don't have to mushfake at work, is your job hiring. lol just kidding. You're lucky you don't have to put up a front and are able to be yourself :)
Brenda
Hello Karishma!
ReplyDeleteFirst off I would like to say that I can really to your blog. I, myself, come a Mexican background and although I may able to speak the language in comparison to other family members how I act and speak is very mush different. For one thing I don't like to start conversations especially at parties where I don't know anybody or even be at a level to keep a good conversation in Spanish going. It's all a manner of being able to adjust to a particular group or culture from what we read as mushfaking.
Well that's all from me your fellow blogger,
David Bobadilla
Hi Karishma!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your blog. I just first off wanted to say that Indian food is so bomb, my roommates and I get Indian food once every 2 weeks! I cannot help but relate to you on the family gatherings. I am half Filipino, and usually Filipinos’ like to do it big also. Every time I go, I get people that I have never seen before in my life come up to me and say, "oh my gosh, you're so big now, don't you remember me?" and I always say "oh yeah omg how are you?" but i honestly have no idea who they are. Faking it till you make it, can actually go a long way. Even though you don't like what you're doing, you just "fake it till you make it" and to other people it seems like you're actually doing a great job at what you're doing even though you don't know what you're doing. (idk if that made any sense haha) but overall, good job on your blog!
-Vanessa Lim