Ever since I arrived in India, the idea of a blog documenting the days of cross-cultural life has not left my mind. My fear of starting too many things made me hesitant to write such a blog, but my desire to share my new desi adventures won me over and I found that the benefits of such a blog outweighed my points of hesitancy, and thus this blog was born.
The past few weeks have been the home of another battle. The blog name battle. What do I call such a cross-cultural blog? On one hand, I want the blog to be personal, telling stories of real events and people in my new home. Yet on the other, I want it to be culturally appropriate and sensitive, and the name should reflect that. The battle ended a couple days ago after talking with a friend.
I am in an area with so many different people, and these different groups of people use different words to express the same thing. One word that stuck out to me is the word “jija”, which to my group of friends means “older sister.” It is a term of endearment, and not one of superiority.
“Jija.”
That is my goal, to be seen as a sister in this place and with those that I call friends- to be a cultural insider. However, I know that no matter how long I am here and how hard I try to fit in, I will always have white skin and be an American at heart. That is my home culture. English is my heart language.
“American Jija.”
That is exactly how I want to be seen- an American who has become like a sister to the people I encounter in India and around the world. I hope that as you journey with me to becoming that sister, you too become deeply involved in the lives of those I come to love.
Welcome to American Jija.
Elizabeth, I'm so excited for you. :)
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