We're going to be making numerous generalizations about Americans and American culture during our course. But we want to avoid stereotypes both of Americans and Indians. There are some things which are true of most Americans and research or experience with support that proposition. But the same that is true of all Americans is stereotyping. stereotyping happens when we make judgments in our mind, which puts all people into the same box without exception. The judgments may be both positive and negative.

I was training an executive from Mexico City, who was beginning an assignment in India, when we were discussing stereotypes. He relayed to me an experience he had with being stereotyped. He was visiting New York and someone asked him where From, he said Mexico, the person responded, no, you aren't from Mexico. I visited Los Angeles and I met lots of Mexicans there, and you don't look like them. So I know you're not from Mexico. When we begin to form images in our minds about a particular group of people, and we will not change it, regardless of the evidence to the contrary, we're stereotyping.

If you're from South India, I can say with some confidence that you had an Italy with a bomb, perhaps a dosa for breakfast, something made with rice flour, eaten with soundbar. If you're from North India, you probably had a roti or peraza for breakfast, chances are that this is true. Generally, it's true. But if you say I am from South India, but I had a roti prefer for breakfast, and I come back with no I know that South Indians eat Italy's for breakfast, not robotics. But you say, No, I had a roti. And I say, No, you couldn't have that is stereotyping.

Stereotyping is putting everyone in the same box without exploring what is really true. I don't like to be stereotyped. And I'm sure you don't. So we want to avoid stereotyping. But if we don't make some generalizations about Americans or Indians, then we really can't say anything about culture. So I will be saying some things that are generally true of Indians and India, which I've observed or research has indicated to be true.

If I say something about India, and you say, no, that's not my experience. I want you to know I believe you. I'm not trying to put you in a box. You may think well, why is he saying that? I already know that that that's important or I really, really doesn't apply to me. Again, I want you to know, I believe you.

I want to cover as much ground as possible in this course and make broad generalizations to include the experience of as many Indians as possible. It's hard to generalize both in India and in the US, because both cultures are very multi ethnic and very diverse. Someone has said that when taking a road trip in India, every time your petrol tank gets slow, and you need to stop for a fill up, you will be in a different culture. You come from various parts of India, and India is vast and very multi ethnic. You have many different experiences at your schools and at your colleges. I want to acknowledge those differences.

My intent is not to put you in a box.