My English is good but although I do have a bit of a desi accent, I pretended to be a native English speaker for this experiment that would give me bonus marks for a class. Anyway, the first question out of the grad student’s mouth, after she’s done eyeing me up and down in all my fobby finery (chappal, kameez with ancient jeans, and a dupatta) is, Are you an English speaker? I got nervous and it was like whiplash, my desi accent snuck like a weasel back into place. Yaa yaa, I’m a native Eenglish speeka. Yaa yaa.
Jeez. And then it only got worse. It was a timed task where I had to identify words as either a noun or an action word as quickly as possible. Something I am usually very good at but now I bombed. Snake and elephants became action words while bake was a noun now.
Jeez. And then I had to go to library and I was directly behind a bunch of desi kids enveloped in a cloud of perfume and minty bubble gum. I probably offended them cuz I had to run to school and must have smelled slightly sweaty. And to make matters worse, I was trying to stuff a paper into the bin and the damn thing wasn’t going in and when I looked around, this beautiful desi girl was eyeing me up and down.
Okay so yeah, that was my boring day. But seriously, is it only me or does anyone else become a total fob freshie when they are around ABCD’s, CBCD’s and whites? I do. I cannot speak English. Pizza is not pitza anymore but peezzaa.
Re: The really really really fresh off the boat desi's day at school
Never had this problem. Actually because of my hijab - students and even proffs think I will have some sort of an accent - sheer ignorance. Once I open my mouth, especially for oral presentations I can go on for hours. I dont have an accent either. I swear some peoples mouths - I am not joking - hang open once I start talking. Its quite hilarious. To top it off , they never can guess where Im originally from. I get a kick out of it all. :p
ps-- I think you just need to relax. Get used to it. You get nervous, try to find something to do that helps you stay calm.
Re: The really really really fresh off the boat desi's day at school
I am rather proud of my accent actually. I am not one to care about accents or lack thereof.
MQ, haha yeah I've gotten that too based on what clothes I am wearing. I have work shalwar kameez to school and was with my sister once (she was wearing jeans and a shirt). This woman asked her specifically what the time was, even though I was wearing half sleeves and my watch was very obviously visible. You're right, ignorance! And in high school I always had teachers exclaiming oh your English is so good, how come? I guess they expect foreigners to not know how to string a sentence together.
Re: The really really really fresh off the boat desi's day at school
couple days ago i was in the main computer lab waiting for my documents to print by the MAIN printer..apparently there was a line up..and these 3 fob guys were singing desi songs LOUDLY! humming away and talking in urdu!..i just rolled my eyes...looked the other way and pretended i didnt hear that! damm these fobs! ok u can talk in urdu...but like keep it quiet cuz ur not in the cafeeee, and plz refrain from singing and they need to discover "deodorant"
Re: The really really really fresh off the boat desi's day at school
i went to this store once and i was looking around. and there was this asian lady with her son. she would say something to her son in whatever language she was speaking and her son had to translate it into english for the store clerk to understand. if you live in the u.s. you should at least learn the language. speak your own language but learn english too. and its not like she was an old lady and her son didnt look over 10. at least you can speak english, its better than having a translator going everywhere with you.
Re: The really really really fresh off the boat desi's day at school
I don't care about fobby students but if you've been here for 20 years and still speak like you just got off a flight from Madras, then you should be deported. ASAP.
Re: The really really really fresh off the boat desi's day at school
FOBs are funny. Especially fobs who have a very gay english accent. Hello!!!! They are from india/pakistan and its Canada? Where does the english accent come in?
Re: The really really really fresh off the boat desi's day at school
I do this thing where i talk to my friends and most anyone else without an accent but as soon as i talk to a member of my family, it comes back really strong. I cant help it, its like a reflex reaction. I remember talking in the library with my friends in the 1st yr (when they didnt kno me so well) and it was all good, but then my brother rang me and my accent changed completely but i didnt think anything of it, tho when i hung up not only my friends but ppl sitting nearby were looking at me like i was crazy! I've been told that it sounds like I'm russian, not even asian - but yeah, i've changed to talking in urdu when i'm in public, also helps that ppl dont kno wot i'm saying
Re: The really really really fresh off the boat desi’s day at school
lol. Your post is too cute to go unnoticed. I have had those fobby days when I was very young and had problems with english. Now it’s all good, people can never tell where I am from. They usually end up guessing I am either from Italy or South America .. When I tell them I am from south asia, they are very surprised. They start asking me if I am a mixed race chick -funny!
Re: The really really really fresh off the boat desi's day at school
That's just really sad when people try to put on those fake American accents when you know they've only been living there for 5 years. More importantly your grammar should be sound and your words should be clear. I love desi accents, and think my parents sound really cool when they speak English. Like Indian celebs sound nice when they speak English without contriving an accent. Pakistanis should stop trying so damn hard to 'fit in'. Its understandable if you're born and brought up in a certain place and have that accent but once you're past the age of 18, your accent cannot change but amazing how some people make a concerted effort to change it. Stupid people.
Re: The really really really fresh off the boat desi’s day at school
I agree. When I was in Karachi earlier this year, we were in Clifton at that Village restaurant and I was quite surprised to see how many local Pakistanis who you know live just up the street were all talking in extremely bad english to one another. It was all just to show off, I know that much, but it was amusing. They shut up and became embarrased when they heard me and my sister speak.
.. When I tell them I am from south asia, they are very surprised. They start asking me if I am a mixed race chick -funny!
