Traveling and Mall of America
I am now in St. Paul, MN. It wasn’t a bad flight considering how flying has become. Since 911 I really don’t enjoy flying. And it’s not just security I have to deal with. I can’t go to the restroom in the airport without considering my stance!
While I was walking to my terminal I saw a couple with five small children traveling. The children ranged in age from an infant to probably about ten. I can better appreciate now why people used to stare at us when we traveled with six children. It is quite a site. I would like to have chatted with them but they were just getting on a bus.
I saw a group of people when I arrived at the airport who were greeting some arriving passengers. I think they may have been Indian. It was an interesting routine they went through when they greeted. It was hug and kiss on the cheek. That was followed by a sort of cheek to cheek thing or maybe a light kiss on the cheek and it was always three times. First one cheek, then the other and then back to the first one again. I thought maybe it was just that person but then I noticed they all did it.
I went to Mall of America today. I was not that impressed. But I am really not a mall person. It’s just like any other mall in America except bigger. I don’t see the appeal. But it was interesting in that it has an amusement park in the middle. That was rather cool. But there was no bike store. I went to a Nordstrom Rack store and got a good deal on some shorts and an exercise shirt. I forgot my pjs so that will have to do.
There are certainly a lot of people here who have the mid-western look.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Nope,that group was not Indian– as an Indian, I can say that with some conviction. We normally greet another Indian with folded hands and say “Namaste” which literally means, “the Divine in me greets the divine in you”. Namaste is the traditional way to greet though sometimes to show more affection folks may hug but this systematic kissing on the cheeks is not a part of the culture as I know it… Wonder what made you believe they were Indian?
January 27th, 2008 at 5:25 am
At the risk of being politically incorrect and saying something really stupid let me explain. Hell I’m not running for president so does it matter what I say. But no offense is intended for anyone out there. I am just trying to educate myself.
First I love that traditional Indian greeting.”the Divine in me greets the divine in you”. It seems so special and endearing. I have never heard that before.
Would saying they are from South Asia make sense? I don’t know. They didn’t look quite like the Indians I have met. Their features weren’t as delicate as most Indians I have met. If that means anything to anyone. And don’t anyone misinterpret delicate. I just couldn’t think of any other word. And I don’t mean anything by delicate. They weren’t Latino and they weren’t middle Eastern. Hell I don’t know…lol “they all look alike to me”
No not really. See I could get in big trouble here. But…
There was a very strong smell of curry about them also. I mean no offense here either. I have a very astute nose and notice smells. So curry could mean South Asia.
Lets take my comment about the people here have a certain Mid-Western look. To many people, Caucasian Americans probably all look alike. But if one is observant and has been around they will see that people in certain areas of the country have a certain look. At least many of them do. I am sure it has to do with what areas they came from when they came America. The mid-west had a lot of northern European settlers. I assume that is where they get their look. Other areas had people primarily from the British Isles.
Okay. Please don’t anyone out there blast me. I am was just curious. I thought the greeting they were going through was fascinating and touching.
Does anybody out there no anything about the greeting ritual I talked about in the post?