My
comeback post..... Every day in the shower for the past so many years , I
promised myself that 'today' is the day that I would start writing again. And
'that' day never came. Until now..... I am a little rusty. I do not know
whether anyone would read this. But I am happy that I am writing. Nay!! I am
over the moon, the stars, and the entire galaxy!!!
Every
day at 9pm there is a tussle in my house. Between Chhota Bheem and Matt, George
and Gary. I am a huge fan of the Masterchef series. I never enter the kitchen
to cook, but neither do I miss any episode of the cookery show. I watch the US
and Australian series one after the other and the difference is so so so
stark!!! But, as my mom says, always start with the positive and the good
things, so let me start with that!
Outwardly,
Australian culture and American culture appear quite similar. Both are predominantly
of Caucasian/Anglo-Saxon ancestry and share English heritage and language. They
are relatively young cultures that grew through liberal immigration policies
during their early political formation, and follow well known and understood
legal traditions and governance systems.
Both
Australia and the United States were conceived as British colonies; the United
States for its economic/trade value and Australia as a prison colony. Settlers
of the two nations eventually conquered rough and unfriendly terrain by
overpowering the indigenous and working the land for mining and farming.
That
is history for you. Let me give you some more tidbits. Both the countries are
potpourri of different cultures and ethnicity. People from around the world
throng to these two countries to earn a livelihood and a better life.
Despite
having such a strong historical similarity, the cultures and behavioral pattern
are totally different. Watch their Masterchef series and you would know.
In
Masterchef Australia, all the contestants are a big happy family. They never
bad mouth each other. Never try to put anyone down. What the heck! They go all
the way to actively motivate their competition. There is lots of hugging, pet
names, emotions.....love and affection just overflows. The judges are Oh! So
Sweet!!!! They encourage immensely. There is just plain bonhomie all around.
Just like Death by Chocolate.
Cut
to Masterchef America ..... @#@#@#@# !!!! @#@$@#@$$!!!!! .....Yo baby! You get
the drift. Cuss words are like Please and Thank You. If you don't
hate your competition, you are not worthy to be in the series. More than the
food, it’s the mouth that does the talking. Everyone is so outwardly
aggressive. Or Quirky. Or Kinky. Or simple plain Crazy. The judges steal the
thunder by being masters of the Cuss word dictionary. Ahaaaa ..... This series
is like a chataakedar bhelpuri!
And
I wonder! In both the series, you have the local white /black population. Add
on representatives from all the immigrant population ..... Asian, Indian,
Italian, Arabic, Mexican ...... yet their behavior in both are like chalk and
cheese. So, let us not yet pooh pooh the importance of Culture in our behavior.
We may be able to instantly connect with others on this planet, but mind you,
our behavior is so much governed by the culture we are brought up in. And there
is nothing wrong in maintaining homogeneity in that. Mixing chocolate
with bhelpuri can be disastrous. Not just in terms of taste, but for the tummy
as well.
And
before I forget, Aussies drive on the different side of the road than
Americans. ...... Now you know :)
