'As immigrants without extended family nearby, we had to consider how we wanted to include ourselves in our neighboring community.'
When I was 24, I moved to Illinois from Mumbai, India, for graduate school. The transition was hard, but the following year, during the summer of 1996, I met a a fellow male student who grew up in New Delhi, India. We shared a love of food, had easy conversations, were both Hindu and found plenty of humor in our differences, particularly the friendly rivalry between a Bombay-ite and a Delhi-ite.
My father, a decorated police officer, practiced a genuine acceptance and respect toward all religions and instilled the same values in us. His mother was born Jewish but converted to Hinduism before her marriage, so he had learned religious intolerance firsthand. Even though my family is Hindu, my parents did not hesitate to enroll my brother and I in Catholic schools. In time, we became well-versed with many church-based celebrations.
My Delhi-ite husband had not attended Catholic school, but one with a dominant Hindu student body. Delhi governed India’s politics; its electric, high-octane environment influenced everything. He said unlike Mumbai, life in Delhi did not spill out into the streets; Delhi, its people and its celebrations seemed guarded both literally and metaphorically. Suddenly, our friendly rivalry was not as friendly anymore.
We moved to Georgia in 2005 after our daughter was born, and also because my husband received a job offer. I enrolled our 3-year-old in a nearby Baptist day school out of convenience, and later at the neighborhood elementary school. Our curious chatterbox turned 5 in 2008 and may or may not have offered an unsolicited opinion about Santa’s existence to fellow kindergarteners. We received a carefully crafted email shortly after.
As an immigrant nuclear family without extended family nearby, school events like a Thanksgiving play, chorus performances with religious hymns and “holiday” shows for her dance program had left us conflicted. The recession tightened our purse, but we contributed bits of our savings to holiday gifts — lest our circumstances dampen another’s celebrations.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Perspective | We’re deep in debt this holiday, but my family still expects giftsFor couple with $62,000 in credit card debt, holiday-spending stress is compounded by family expectations.
Read more »
17 Stocking Stuffers for Pets—Because They’re a Part of the Family Too, Gosh Dangit!From dog sweaters to catnip toys—these are the only gifts I want to give out this year.
Read more »
This Transracial Adoption Story Shows That the Basis of Family Is Love, Not ColorJeena and Drue Wilder's biracial family grew to include their daughter, Claridy — a transracial adoptee — three years ago, and they've never looked
Read more »
What Your Christmas Movie Choice Says About Your FamilyFrom Little Women to Uncut Gems, here's what your Christmas movie choice says about your family.
Read more »
Mike Tindall reveals what really happens during Christmas at Sandringham with the royal familyMike Tindall opens up about Christmas with the Royal Family at Sandringham, including watching the Queen's speech and Zara Tindall's impressive present buying skills
Read more »