This semester was by far one of my best semesters at the University of Richmond because of this opportunity to learn Gujarati and get academic credit for it. Learning a new language at 21 years of age is challenging and I can’t say that I would have been able to do it without this opportunity because my class schedule wouldn’t allow me time to do so. It has been most rewarding.
With that said, overall, I am very pleased with the progression that I have made in the Gujarati language this semester. Not only am I able to meet and greet other Gujaratis on campus however, however I am able to tell the time, talk about my family members, talk about the colors, days of the week, what I’m doing, and where I’m going among many other things! I have progressed so much because of the commitment of my two language partners and my desire to really immerse myself in this language.
It all starts with the culture. Since the state of Gujarat is a part of greater India and Indian culture, this semester, I’ve been working diligently to understand basic cultural norms and customs of India. I started with watching Bollywood movies; I’ve watched 7 to be exact. Anyone who knows Bollywood knows that most movies are 3 hours long. This was a cultural commitment that I made this semester to better understand Indian culture. Hindustan (India) has always been famous for its traditions and hospitality. The warmth in the relations and elation in celebrations make the country stand out distinctively in the amongst others. The country's liveliness and generosity attract a number of tourists. The cuisines, festivals, music, literature, and theater. Everything is 'special' in this 'land of gods'. I’ve never truly appreciated American culture until now, because I just didn’t know what culture was. Culture is how we dress, how our families come together or grow apart through marriage, what we eat, and how we raise our children. These are all very important aspects of Gujarati culture that I have learned throughout the semester.
For example, in Gujarati culture, the lavishness of weddings has always been an integral and indispensable part of marriage. In India, marriage is still taken as an institution where not two people but two families get united. So, it always calls for boisterous celebrations full of music and dance. Within India, every caste and community has its own way of performing the rituals of marriage. This greatly contrasts with my reality and what I have known and believed to be true in the USA, which is that a marriage is a bond between two individuals, period. Because I have been so interested in learning about the Gujarati family unit, I have especially excelled at vocabulary centered around family, work, community, and festivals.
In addition to family, religion or “dharma”, is extremely influential on the language. Gujarat has major multicultural religious faith system with the inception of all-embracing religious faith ranging from caste to caste. The major religions followed are Hinduism, Jainism Islam, and Buddhism. People of Gujarat are god fearing, friendly and good-natured. They live in harmony and respect each other’s faith and beliefs. Gujaratis are often found to mingle and enjoy all religious festivals with no caste or creed differences. These festivals are heavily influential.
Overall, cultural aspects of Gujarat and greater India have dominated my intro to Gujarati experience. I have learned so much more than just the language and how to make basic conversation, our how to count from 1-10. Reflecting on this experience, I have learned to fully appreciate and respect the vast differences in Indian and American culture. In my opinion, these differences are what makes the world go around. I’m so happy that I decided to learn Gujarati! I look forward to continuing in this language endeavor next semester!
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