What cultural faux pas should I try to avoid making in India?
We asked people in India if they could share any humorous cultural blunders they commited. For new expats, keep in mind that these incidents are an inevitable part of expat life. Learning to laugh about them is the key!...
"It's all been language based hilarity - the words for /very/ and /ghost/ can be pretty similar," explained one expat living in Mussoorie, India.
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"I asked if our neighbor's daughter would want to babysit some evenings to earn some money (thinking she's right across the hall--her parents home in case of emergency etc). She was keen, but her mother was horrified and said her daughter was too lazy to do that! When I told my friend, she laughed and said child minding at is a very low level job and I probably insulted them. I apologized and made cookies the next day," said another expat in Mumbai, India.
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Other Questions:
- What do I need to know before retiring in India?
- How do I meet people in India?
- What is life like in India?
- Is there a lot of crime in India?
- Is there a lot of diversity? Are people in India accepting of differences?
- What are the schools in India like?
- Is the cost of living in India high?
- What advice do you have for expats having a baby in India?
- What are healthcare services like in India?
- Is the cost of living in India high?
- What type of recreational facilities are in India?
- What is the weather like in India?
- Are there good restaurants in India?
- Where will I buy groceries and do other shopping in India?
- What are the visa & residency requirements in India?
- Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in India?
- What do I need to know when buying property in India?
- Are foreigners allowed to own property in India?
- What appliances are typically included in a rental?
What cultural faux pas should I try to avoid making in India?
If you live in India, newcomers to India would love to hear your answer to this question.
About the Author
Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International
and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University
with a BA in International Business and German.
Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.
