Children hitting and touching me

PeakXV · Oct 25th, 2009, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gelsomina

I'm a middle school teacher and have little patience for kids getting unruly with adults, so I go into school marm mode when they do this; that is, I get really irritated at their disrespectful behavior and glare at them and say 'stop'. Unfortunately it's happened so many times already that I think the next time some brat does this, I'm really going to lose it!
Help IM'ers!

The only thing I can think of is that by being a middle school teacher your eye contact, body language & overall demeanor may be a bit alluring to these children.

Most of us pay little notice to the hordes of attention that groups of children can throw at you in India - 'Haaallo Sir, Halllloooo Madam, What country are you from?'etc. etc. etc. - and thus keep moving forward with a consistant ' game face' & 'game posture' when approached by touts, hawkers or small groups of inquisitive kids alike.

If you do joke around with them or give them a chance for a 'foot-in-your-door' then be prepared for anything from a great experience to have them jump up & sit on your head for a while.

Nick-H · Oct 25th, 2009, 21:19

It's a myth that Indian children are angels.

Travel*grl · Oct 25th, 2009, 21:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

Have you seen those "tennis racket" fly zappers that put out a few thousand volts at a very low safe current?

Just askin'

My automatic reflex would be to hit back, which probably would not be a good thing. But, I like this idea much better.

Haylo · Oct 25th, 2009, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travel*grl

But, I like this idea much better.

It wasn't a serious suggestion, though thinking about it definitely helps, but I'd never really use one of those on kids.

Grown men maybe!

Travel*grl · Oct 25th, 2009, 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

It wasn't a serious suggestion, though thinking about it definitely helps, but I'd never really use one of those on kids.

Grown men maybe!

I know it wasn't a serious suggestion, but it did make me laugh.

Matthew Morris · Oct 25th, 2009, 21:53

We've had children throwing rocks at us in Gujurat and Rajasthan...weren't doing anything to provoke it, we were just standing there...but it's only happened twice.

capt_mahajan · Oct 25th, 2009, 21:58

Quote:

only happened twice.

That's twice too often.

Third time is enemy action

Aupmanyav · Oct 25th, 2009, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

Doubt our Indian members from other parts of the country would have massive culture shock on visiting Rajasthan, but I guess they would be just as annoyed at behaviour like that.

Sometimes these children may be acting in tune with the elders. They may distract you and run away with something that you are carrying. This could happen even to an Indian anywhere in the country. It is a common trick.

labrol · Oct 25th, 2009, 23:18

That 'common trick' is certainly not that common.I haven't heard of this trick used to steal from me or from any of my friends, most of whom travel a lot and belong to all spectrums from jet black to milk white in skin color. The OP and the others above have experienced it several times, with no attempt by the perpetrators to steal.

kartikp · Oct 27th, 2009, 15:05

Wow, I never saw this kind of behavior. may be because I am a Rajasthani and I would practically lynch the kid if they crossed the line. One thing that I have seen common in the culture of Rajasthan is the respect for elders. Since the childhood it is drilled into our minds that we have to respect our elders, and that does not end with elders in family. However it will not be fair to assume that it is a rule in Rajasthan but more or less a common practice.

I assume you are facing this problem in cities because in rural parts of Rajasthan you are very unlikely to face this problem. Best advice I can give is, next time someone tries something objectionable, grab the kid and threaten to take him to police. It may work for you.

Cheers,
Kartik

Digital Drifter · Oct 27th, 2009, 18:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

It's a myth that Indian children are angels.

*checking swollen lip in mirror after being head butted by son

You were saying...

Angels, kids, BLOODY HELL, there is no relation!!!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a small giggling hyperactive kid who's in need of a bear hug. Massive bear hug till he quiets down.

Nick-H · Oct 27th, 2009, 20:25

I'm sure your son is more of an angel than the little girl I chased away, for catapulting birds, yesterday.

Mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, despite eating chickens myself, I am not having wild birds killed here. On the other hand, the way she dropped her catapult and ran, made me sad that this was her life: being yelled at and running away.

PeakXV · Oct 27th, 2009, 22:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, despite eating chickens myself, I am not having wild birds killed here.

Me too. Hunt grouse every autumn but spend a couple hundred dollars each year feeding songbirds .... & time in chasing away those persistent neighbourhood cats.

One thing that sticks in my craw a bit though is a story told to me by an employee at the Leela Mumbai. He said that in their village they harvest many songbirds by using long poles with artificial flowers attached. They apply super sticky glue to these flowers & raise these poles through the branches of a tree & just wait for their prey to come perch on these traps. He said he knew it was wrong but the birds are free & so tasty that it's hard to resist.

I don't how the protection laws, associated fines & enforcement techniques are structured in India for avifauna - but if tree cutting, slingshots, feral cats & superglue are only the tip of the iceberg then something has to be done immediately to save India's 'song'.

Nick-H · Oct 27th, 2009, 23:09

Hey... Hands off my cats!

Gelsomina · Oct 27th, 2009, 23:18

hi, me again, and thanks for all the thoughtful replies. No, it's definitely not culture shock. This was my 4th time to India, for a total of 3 months there, all my visits combined. I've also been living in Thailand for the past 2.5 years, have traveled extensively throughout SE Asia on my own, and prior to that lived in a very Dominican/Puerto Rican neighborhood in NYC! not to mention almost 6 years in Italy. And this has never happened to me anywhere else. I think I attract attention from these kids because I am fair, female and a 'soft target'- I'm not a big scary-looking man with a beard, for example. Plus, I think these kids are just badly brought up. One of my significant other's friends in Udaipur told me that there's no question these kids are just rude and I should slap them!

I would never do that, but definitely learning a few choice phrases in Mewari ASAP is on my to-do list before I return in December. I've also heard stories about some poor, remote villages in Rajasthan, particularly near Mt. Abu, where even Indians dare not go, because all the villagers, not just kids, will throw rocks at them. For as polite, cordial and hospitable as many people in Rajasthan are, there is also most definitely a group who see no problem in pushing, touching, stick/rock throwing and generally harassing people. It could very well be that as a foreigner I'm somehow not viewed as human by these kids, therefor the usual respect they would have for adults goes by the wayside. I do like the mosquito-tennis racquet idea, though

!

Oct 25th, 2009, 21:53	#21
Matthew Morris Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Netherlands Posts: 141	We've had children throwing rocks at us in Gujurat and Rajasthan...weren't doing anything to provoke it, we were just standing there...but it's only happened twice. __________________ I have the wisdom of Buddha combined with the body of Peter Andre - oh...no..it's the other way round..

Oct 25th, 2009, 23:18	#24
labrol Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gurgaon, India Posts: 305	That 'common trick' is certainly not that common.I haven't heard of this trick used to steal from me or from any of my friends, most of whom travel a lot and belong to all spectrums from jet black to milk white in skin color. The OP and the others above have experienced it several times, with no attempt by the perpetrators to steal. __________________ Alone I walked. Strangers joined in. We became a caravan.

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Oct 25th, 2009, 21:19	#17
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	It's a myth that Indian children are angels.

Oct 27th, 2009, 15:05	#25
kartikp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: UAE Posts: 51	Wow, I never saw this kind of behavior. may be because I am a Rajasthani and I would practically lynch the kid if they crossed the line. One thing that I have seen common in the culture of Rajasthan is the respect for elders. Since the childhood it is drilled into our minds that we have to respect our elders, and that does not end with elders in family. However it will not be fair to assume that it is a rule in Rajasthan but more or less a common practice. I assume you are facing this problem in cities because in rural parts of Rajasthan you are very unlikely to face this problem. Best advice I can give is, next time someone tries something objectionable, grab the kid and threaten to take him to police. It may work for you. Cheers, Kartik

Oct 27th, 2009, 20:25	#27
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	I'm sure your son is more of an angel than the little girl I chased away, for catapulting birds, yesterday. Mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, despite eating chickens myself, I am not having wild birds killed here. On the other hand, the way she dropped her catapult and ran, made me sad that this was her life: being yelled at and running away.

Oct 27th, 2009, 23:09	#29
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	Hey... Hands off my cats!

Oct 27th, 2009, 23:18	#30
Gelsomina Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Thailand Posts: 16	hi, me again, and thanks for all the thoughtful replies. No, it's definitely not culture shock. This was my 4th time to India, for a total of 3 months there, all my visits combined. I've also been living in Thailand for the past 2.5 years, have traveled extensively throughout SE Asia on my own, and prior to that lived in a very Dominican/Puerto Rican neighborhood in NYC! not to mention almost 6 years in Italy. And this has never happened to me anywhere else. I think I attract attention from these kids because I am fair, female and a 'soft target'- I'm not a big scary-looking man with a beard, for example. Plus, I think these kids are just badly brought up. One of my significant other's friends in Udaipur told me that there's no question these kids are just rude and I should slap them! I would never do that, but definitely learning a few choice phrases in Mewari ASAP is on my to-do list before I return in December. I've also heard stories about some poor, remote villages in Rajasthan, particularly near Mt. Abu, where even Indians dare not go, because all the villagers, not just kids, will throw rocks at them. For as polite, cordial and hospitable as many people in Rajasthan are, there is also most definitely a group who see no problem in pushing, touching, stick/rock throwing and generally harassing people. It could very well be that as a foreigner I'm somehow not viewed as human by these kids, therefor the usual respect they would have for adults goes by the wayside. I do like the mosquito-tennis racquet idea, though !