I ventured out of my comfort zone today. Less than 5 miles from my house is a neighborhood that is primarily Indian. In my constant search for brass, I decided to visit some of the stores there. Normally, I am reluctant to approach strangers, especially those that speak with an accent. This isn't prejudice on my part. I have a slight hearing problem, and am afraid of offending people by asking them to repeat themselves. Accents make it even harder for me to understand. However, being entirely out of my element, I had no choice. I found that every person I spoke with was terribly helpful. It bothers me that I'm surprised by that. I don't think of myself as racist, yet I guess in some ways I am. Any time I judge a person by their color or national origin, I'm a bigot. I'm going to work on that.
After visiting the boutiques, I went into Patel Brothers. It's an Indian grocery store. As I looked around, I realized how out of place I was. My shorts and tank top were inappropriate among the saris and head coverings, and my language was not the one being spoken. I had just a tiny taste of what it must be like to be an immigrant. I can't imagine the courage it takes to come to a totally foreign country, and try to build a life. My whole attitude towards the folks around me are now changing.
I also went to the mall, and ended up lost! I knew what store I had come in through, but could not find it in order to leave. This must be why Megan usually goes shopping with me.
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