Diasporic Comm Week 5: Field Trip!

This past week our class took the train to Southall, an area with one of the largest South Asian populations in the United Kingdom. It was a treat to visit, and I felt like I was in India if India were very cold, very rainy, and filled with bright red double decker buses. Our guide Monesha was incredibly knowledgeable and explained the traditions and customs behind each venue we visited, which included grocery stores, restaurants, and fabric retailers among others.

My favorite site we visited was our final stop, a Hindi Temple. At first I was slightly nervous about going in--I had never been to a Hindi Temple before and I didn't want to seem disrespectful, or disturb the other worshipers. However, the staff could not have been more welcoming. After taking off our shoes, we followed Monesha, who is Hindi herself, into a brightly lit, colorful room. At the front of the room, a stage-like platform held statues of Hindi avatars, surrounded by their respective symbols. Monesha explained the purposes of each avatar, and the customs of praying which included offering food, money, and other goods to the altar at the corner of the room. We were informed of the various sects existing within Hinduism, and it seems that the faith is less concerned with specific gods and rules, and more with a general philosophy. According to Monesha, Hindis can range from being highly devout to atheistic. What they share is the conscious appreciation and respect for life in all its forms. Upon leaving, we were each given a piece of blessed fruit, an action which reflected the sentiment of appreciation and kindness I gathered from Hinduism itself. I'm convinced the fruit gave us good karma for a safe train ride home.

Diasporic Comm Week 4

Week four's class discussed the various countries of origin for Britain's Asian population, the political, cultural, and economic forces behind their emigration, the customs and traditions that survived their migration, and the media they have established to retain their cultural identities. Sunrise radio--jokingly referred to by young Asians as 'your parents' radio station'--is one media outlet that the Asian-English community has established. While based in Southall, an area with a large Hindi, Sikh, and Muslim population, the news source covers stories occurring in both Britain and Asia. It also promotes upcoming events geared toward Asians in the UK.

One story that I found interesting was Domino Pizza's decision to serve only halal ingredients (food in accordance with Muslim law, i.e. no pork) in Hall Green, an area in Birmingham with a large Muslim community. This story demonstrates the cultural blend of East and West in the UK. Domino's, a large American food chain, is frequented by Muslims living in Birmingham, who in turn adjust the store's standards to accommodate their cultural and religious beliefs. Though as the story asserts,
"some customers of the Hall Green restaurant say the policy is discriminatory to non-Muslims," I think it's nice that the Muslim community is able to maintain its customs in this capitalistic, global corporation. If non-muslims are really hankering for a pepperoni pizza, I'm sure they can drive two minutes away to find the next Domino's. If not, I guess they'll just have to settle for Pizza Hut.