Foreigners in India often share their views of the country on social media, highlighting the differences that make their experience unique. A Polish woman named Dominika Patalas Kalra received more than 22,000 likes on Instagram for a post titled “Things I would do in India, but never in other countries …” Her list included these observations:
- I’ll cross a road in India through complete chaos, not paying attention to pedestrian crossings like in other countries.
- I’ll drink chai from a tiny roadside glass like it’s a five-star experience.
- I’ll ask a completely random uncle for directions and trust his confidence more than Google Maps.
- I’ll let a random auntie comment on my life, career, marriage, weight, and future … and just smile.
- I’ll squeeze into an auto/bus/train with absolutely no concept of personal space.
- I’ll have dinner at midnight and call it completely normal.
- I’ll walk into someone’s house without thinking twice because “arre, come inside!”
- I’ll go to a wedding where I barely know the people and still behave like I’m part of the family.
- I’ll call someone “bhaiya,” “didi,” “uncle,” or “aunty” even when I have absolutely no idea what their name is.
- I’ll say “five minutes away” while still being very much at home.
Compiled and partly written by Indian humorist MELVIN DURAI, author of the novel Bala Takes the Plunge. [Comments? Contributions? Please email us at melvin@melvindurai.com. We welcome jokes, quotes, online clips, and more.]