I've always had a sense of pride in being a Kannadiga (for all you north Indians out there, that means I'm from Karanataka - we're not all called Madrasis, you know!). It's not a sort of senseless pride - I actually have reasons.
First off, from what I know, we're generally pretty nice people. Do note that I said generally - we've no shortage of chaps who pull on their baggy brown shorts and go about beating up people from other religions. In general, though, people from Karanataka are pretty nice. They'll make an effort to talk to you in English if they think you don't speak Kannada. They'll do their best to help you out if you ask for directions. They're polite. I, personally, think that's quite lovely.
I also love how Kannadigas in general are quite talkative folk. It's lovely how you can sit in the back of a cab or auto rickshaw and have a conversation with the driver. For example, a couple of days ago I was going to a Google conference called "Google Insights" (I'm only 14 and it was invite only. Who invites 14-year-olds to invite only conferences???). It takes roughly an hour or so to travel from home to the Google headquarters, and I figured I'd take a book to keep me amused during the car ride. As it turned out, the book was completly unnecessary. I spent the hour chatting with the driver about his customers, the pros and cons of Ola (the taxi service I was using) and why the Government (ever-criticized as it is) was not putting enough money into building walkways over busy streets. I have seldom spent a more interesting hour.
Kannadigas are also generally willing to make jokes. They aren't easily offended or uptight just because they don't know you. They are, at least in my limited experience, quite willing to make jokes about themselves, and I, personally, think that's quite wonderful.
Lastly - I don't know if this is a strange thing to like - I think it's quite nice that people will almost unthinkingly use terms of endearment when talking to children. They don't treat you any differently because you are a child that they don't know.
By the way, I have a request to you. If you read this blog, please comment on here - not on Facebook or Google+ or wherever you got the link to it from. I'd love to hear what you think of this blog. Thanks.
First off, from what I know, we're generally pretty nice people. Do note that I said generally - we've no shortage of chaps who pull on their baggy brown shorts and go about beating up people from other religions. In general, though, people from Karanataka are pretty nice. They'll make an effort to talk to you in English if they think you don't speak Kannada. They'll do their best to help you out if you ask for directions. They're polite. I, personally, think that's quite lovely.
I also love how Kannadigas in general are quite talkative folk. It's lovely how you can sit in the back of a cab or auto rickshaw and have a conversation with the driver. For example, a couple of days ago I was going to a Google conference called "Google Insights" (I'm only 14 and it was invite only. Who invites 14-year-olds to invite only conferences???). It takes roughly an hour or so to travel from home to the Google headquarters, and I figured I'd take a book to keep me amused during the car ride. As it turned out, the book was completly unnecessary. I spent the hour chatting with the driver about his customers, the pros and cons of Ola (the taxi service I was using) and why the Government (ever-criticized as it is) was not putting enough money into building walkways over busy streets. I have seldom spent a more interesting hour.
Kannadigas are also generally willing to make jokes. They aren't easily offended or uptight just because they don't know you. They are, at least in my limited experience, quite willing to make jokes about themselves, and I, personally, think that's quite wonderful.
Lastly - I don't know if this is a strange thing to like - I think it's quite nice that people will almost unthinkingly use terms of endearment when talking to children. They don't treat you any differently because you are a child that they don't know.
By the way, I have a request to you. If you read this blog, please comment on here - not on Facebook or Google+ or wherever you got the link to it from. I'd love to hear what you think of this blog. Thanks.
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