“Mom, by the way, I’m going out of town next week!” See you, bye!” I say as I hurriedly walk past her in the kitchen and out the door, narrowly missing the 101 questions and a chapal (sandal) being thrown at my head.
Somewhere in the world, there’s an Indian girl gathering her travel troops and strategizing on how to tell her parents about that fun weekend out of town. Why all the plotting, scheming and avoidance?
Indian parents think of travel as time pass, a money drain, a leisure activity that gets in the way of our education, career and marital goals. They are also susceptible to thinking the worst when we’re out of town.
Travelling with a boyfriend, uh uh. Travelling when married…no questions asked.
Here are 5 White Lies We Tell Our Parents & Strategies We Use When Planning our Travel Adventures!
(I’m guilty of all 5 and I know some of you are too!)
This is mostly applicable to:
- Single brown girls
- Brown girls with boyfriends
- Brown girls living at home
- Brown girls living away from home, but still attached to their parents’ purse strings.
1) Girls, Girls, Girls
You say you’re travelling with all girls even when you’re not. And keeping a look out for any Aunty or Uncle that may see you!
2) The Hide ‘N Avoid Move
Avoiding the topic until the day before you leave to suffer the least amount of yelling. And we know how much a desi mom can yell 😉
3) Paisa Vasool – Value for Money
Telling them a lower price than how much you’re actually spending. Otherwise you’ll hear the “Money doesn’t grow on trees” lecture. Again.
4) On the Offensive – Thinking Ahead
Talking to your parents on a Friday so they don’t call back again until Sunday. Perfect for that weekend escape with your boyfriend.
5) Wild Girls…Gone Good
Mom= “How’s your trip? What are you girls up to?”
You = “Nothing much, just sightseeing.”
Translation: Working up a sweat with those hot out of town boys in your hoochiest outfit.
We know our parents care and we don’t want to hurt them (nor get that chapal thrown at us), but we know they’re not going to understand. Sometimes a brown girl’s gotta do what a brown girl’s gotta do. I kind of laugh when I look back at all the tactics my friends and I have used.
What are some of your best excuses when you go out of town?
Photo Credit/Video: 401 K, Superwoman, Movie Talkies, Cineworld
Ironic timing for this post… just as my 18-year-old daughter is getting ready to go to university out of town. So that’s why she’ll phone me on a Friday?! And yes, I’ve given her the lecture(s) that money doesn’t grow on trees…
Haha! Definitely a cross-cultural post. I know she has a good head on her shoulders though, but still not easy being a parent I’m sure. University is better than high school – even while having fun, it helped me grow up and become independent.
My brother recommended I might like this website.
He was entirely right. This post truly made my day. You cann’t imagine just how much time I had spent for
this info! Thanks!
My parents are “allowing” me to study abroad this fall in the U.K. I’ve always wanted to go. My boyfriend is currently studying abroad in Australia. He booked a flight to visit me for a week because he wanted to see the UK and I’ll happen to be there. I’ve always wanted to go to Australia so I also booked a flight to visit him for 5 days (not including travel time). I am 22 years old and although my father gets heated telling me that “they’re not sending me to study abroad just so I can go to New Zealand (where he thinks) and that he doesn’t approve”. While separately, my mother has told me that I am an adult and I can travel there if I want to. That I can be more independent. That they can advise me but they can’t keep me under tabs and tell me what to do like when I was a child/minor. I’ve already bought my plane ticket with my own money but now I feel guilty for doing it behind my father’s back. How or when and what should I tell them? Not even my mom knows yet