We were very gratified by the response to our story contest. You can look forward to seeing several of the many fine entries we received published in these pages in the weeks to come. This week, we feature one of our Second Prize Winners, Vikram Kaku, from India, who offers a short piece displaying the common experience of moving from one system of etiquette to another.


What's Proper?
by Vikram Kaku

I want to share my experience in the U.S.

My name is Vikram Kaku. I am from India. In our country there was a completely different atmosphere in college classrooms. Everbody used to be properly dressed. We could not bring any food items into our classrooms while a lecture was going on. We had to concentrate on our lectures - whether they were interesting or not. If we were found talking or doing mischief in class, we were asked to leave the classroom. When the professor entered the classroom to give his lecture, we used to stand up and greet him. India is a country where there is lot of respect for professors, whether they know their subject or not. Students have no authority to go against them.

I had landed in the U.S. on August 16th, and our semester was supposed to start on September 5th. I was eagerly waiting for college to start. Finally, the first day of college came. I dressed myself in proper formals, and was raring to go to class. When I reached the classroom, I found other students coming in casuals, shorts, etc. I was feeling bit embarrased seeing this, since they were asking me whether I was going for date or what? as I was formally dressed. I saw a few students bringing food items and eating in the classroom. I asked them whether they were allowed to eat in class, and they replied that it was allowed, and further added that one could enter and leave the classroom without asking the professor's permission. Hearing this, I thought it was something strange.

When our professor came to give his lecture, I stood up and greeted him (the rest of the class were sitting). All the students started looking at me, then started giggling. I felt very much embarrased at that moment.