The story here is how we, as Americans, have begun to question what truly is rude behavior. What is perceived as rude for one person may turn out to be perfectly acceptable for another. Our point is expressed through the international pastime of photography. The photos that Megan and I take are certainly influenced, in some way, by our conservative, measured Mid-Western upbringings. For us we discretely capture images of families, children, and everyday life from a distance respectfully allowing our subjects to continue on their merry ways. And here's the rub: when we are hounded to have our pictures taken with random Indian tourists a clash in social etiquette takes place.
We are usually congenial and open to these encounters but sometimes it can make a day very long and it becomes hard to venture through a well-traveled tourist site. The reality is that we are as exotic to them as they are to us. Everyone seems to want to capture a little slice of something new and unfamiliar. Is anyone truly being rude here? Is it better to ask permission to shoot a photo or to take your shots hidden by your husband's back? We don't have the answers to these questions but, it is our plan to stay the course and to interact with our Indian brothers and sisters with patience and good-humor.
Enjoy the small collection of photos below. They briefly illustrate the point of this post.
Cheers and a Happy New Year!