Expat Bloggers

Ever since my friend A. moved her family from New York to Mumbai, I have discovered the world of expat bloggers. There's a large number of resident non-Indians blogging about the good, the bad, the ugly about their new lives in a new country. By and large, the women bloggers from India fall into two categories: expat wives following their husbands on the international job trail and expat workers following the global economy (this includes returning Indians).

Of the two, I infinitely prefer the latter as their insights and their experiences are more layered and complex. The former seem to be mainly bored housewives sitting around and griping about their host country. There is one in particular who is truly racist and bigoted (given my resolution to not critique anonymously I cannot, alas, name her or which city she blogs from so you'll just have to take my word for it). Being a bigoted religious fundamentalist, she places Hindu religious beliefs in quotes, and makes fun of her rather simple host population which seems to consist of her dozen-odd domestic staff - perhaps mockery as a social skill is de rigueur in expat social circles? Pick someone your own social size, lady, and that might be more of a real insight for your readers. And oh, if those are the kind of values your religion teaches you, it's no surprise that you're not finding many converts.

But there are many whose expat life has been a long journey of discovery. India is a hard country in which to live alone, as all social life is constructed around family or long-time friendships. Even the limited night life of the big metros involves going out with friends; people are not really looking to meet a stranger. Unless one marries into an Indian family or forms a close friendship with an Indian, it is usually very hard to break into society. So, given these formidable barriers to social encounters with Indians, those expat bloggers from India deserve a cheers who have tried to overcome the obstacle of their foreign-ness, the minor and major hardships of daily life, and have retained a generous spirit open to adventure despite the mauling they receive from roadside Romeos and the footdragging they encounter at post offices. Some are visitors, some are married to Indians.

Here is the first of my favorites:
Pretty Blue Salwar is a twenty-something theater grad student who spent a semester in India, teaching theater and directing Shakespeare in Telugu. Like many westerners in India, she was laid low by viruses and bacteria, ripped off by touts, mauled by slimy hotel managers, etc. She now blogs about her life back in the States. Here's to a great career, Blue, you truly deserve it.

More later.