I See White People

It's funny watching the reactions of people when they first see me. Compared to the average person here, I am a bit of an anomaly. I am about one million times lighter than the lightest skinned Indian, my blonde hair sticks out like a sore thumb and I wear "men's" clothing - I have yet to see a female wearing pants without some sort of dress/sari on top. I am pretty much the polar opposite of an Indian woman. So, although it comes as no surprise when people actually stop what they are doing to stare at me, it is still very strange.


Of course, people living in the bigger cities are used to seeing foreigners so it is much easier to walk down the street without feeling awkward. But in the small villages that we have been visiting it is completely different. I've actually seen an old woman's jaw drop when we turned the corner. They don't stare because they think we are particularly beautiful (don't worry mom...I know I'm beautiful no matter what anybody says)...we are just so utterly, so drastically, different. Being a blonde in Italy for the past five years, I've gotten used to being stared at - usually by creepy, greasy men in their 40s/50s - and I am now an expert at avoiding their burrowing eyes. But here the stares are of genuine curiousity and it's fun to stop and say hello and watch them watch me.

We've been going with Father Francis as he gives mass in the different villages of his parish. One night he even told the people to feel free to ask us questions and touch our skin and hair. At first they were shy but, once they got started, it was hard to stop. It was a bit overwhelming at first but eventually I just went with it. We spent at least thirty minutes shaking hands, giving hugs and answering questions. We even held a few babies. I loved the little old ladies - faces deeply wrinkled from years of working in sun with only a few teeth left - asking us questions in Tamil (their native language) and waiting for our responses. We have perfected the smile, nod, and give a hug. Works every time.


It's strange to think that I am one of perhaps 5-10 white people they will ever see. And heartbreaking to hear the little children asking me to take them to America, some nearly fainted when I said "California." But it is nice to be able to expose them to something new and exciting and maybe plant a seed of curiousity and adventure. I have given my email address to numerous people and, who knows, maybe in ten years I'll have some guests.