Quote: (09-12-2013 12:42 AM)Jazzman92 Wrote:
What is the Australian people's perception of Indian people like?
Low status.
In brief they are seen as people that stack shelves, drive taxis, work at 7-11, all the while studying to be an accountant. The more privileged study at selective government schools, go to university and aspire to work as engineers.
Their level of hygiene is low. Social lives almost non-existent. Personality wise seen as very passive and uncharismatic with inability to express themselves freely or risk upsetting people. Perceived as "hypocrites" for allegations that Australia is racist when they have an entrenched caste system which Australians find mortifying. That's it.
Australians like "individualistic people" that also can be part of the "Australian community".
This does not mean they are racist per se (nothing to do with skin) but they do tend to marginalise the "new-comer". Throughout history, every new immigrant group to Australia has suffered prejudice: Irish pre-World War 1, Southern Europeans in the 1960s, Vietnamese in the 1970s, Lebanese in the 1970s-80s, Chinese in the 1980s, Lebanese in the 1990s, East Africans in the 2000s. Sadly it's almost a right of passage.
However, what you will find is that once the next generation starts speaking with Australian accents, by virtue of being born here, they are accepted. Acceptance in Australia is much more about how you fit into the community rather than your ethnicity. You don't have to shed your cultural heritage completely either, like in France, but you do have to make more of an effort to integrate than in a place like the UK.
I know two second generation Indian guys, one is a writer for an indie music magazine, the other studies Arts and goes to alternative music festivals and takes drugs with the SWPL group. Their "Indian heritage" subsequently is seen as cool and something to derive creativity and ideas from.
If you are like these guys you will be fine.
But if you hang around Indian student visa workers all night long in 7-11 or over the taxi inter-com with a softly-softly style of speaking you will be judged negatively.
Canadian accent - you will be fine too.