The English Version of it all

With my great job follows alot of multicultural experiences. After spending many evenings with 2 teen age boys from Afghanistan, I've had my share of movies. And what kind of movies? Hours and hours with prime time Bollywood. Yipppeee! In Ghana Bollywood movies are on TV every Sunday after church, at least 2 each Sunday and they last at least 4 hours. When I was there, I was smart enough to think of other things to do than sit inside and watch TV in the heat and watch crazy Indians tumble about in colours, dance and drama, after all I was in Ghana, not India! But now am I after all in Vadsø, not in India... But who would have known that Indian movies are just as popular in Afghanistan as American movies are in Europe? They apparently are... Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Bollywood films! They can be really entertaining and funny, and they always have the same dramatic love story where the two young lovers can't have eachother thanks to strict parents and traditions. Their secret love is displayed on screen through stolen glances in big crowds (the dictionary said FURTIVE GLANCES but I think my european friends would rather understand stolen glances) (over)dramatic embraces when noone sees them, kisses that never becomes kisses because they both turn their heads right before the lips would meet,... Sex is big no-no in Bollywood movies and where such things would occur in an American or Europan movie, they rather break out in song and dance in Bollywood, with movements that doesnt really hide what they are actually thinking after all...

If you only have had a glimpse of a Bollywood movie, you would know the dress code is a bit different from Europan style. The 80's are still ruling here, the boys wear tight light blue jeans, no one is ashamed to look like an overdressed boyband hero, slick hairstyle with the hair full og gel, and gold and bling bling around the neck, arms, in the ears... There seems to be no limits to how feminine a boy can be, everyone can wear superpink shirts and tight black leather pants - and those are the hot, tough men!

The movies are filled with flowers, bees, poetry and romance in all shapes and colours (and melodies..). The women are soooo hard to get, and no matter how bitcy they are to the men, the charming dancing men never give up on their princesses, and try over and over to please them. The women are their goddesses.....

Joy, what a wonderful world...