I may not have observed Aussies very closely, but in a short trip I could make out a few differences between them and us!
Go to the Gym? I don't have time!
One thing I have noticed is, most of them are always running. I mean, not running between office and home (like most of us) but yes! Running!! With their Nike shoes on and their ears stuffed with earphones and not to forget those shorts, revealing their long attractive legs! If Aussies are not eating or working, they are running. Well, we Indians? If we are not eating, working, cooking, watching T.V, gossiping or stuck in traffic, then we think of going to the gym ..
Well toned bodies! Don't we love it?
Because physical exercise is an important part of their lifestyle, their bodies are well toned.Almost any dress goes well on them. Once, I spotted a fruit stall near a convenience store on a busy street in central Sydney. I saw a beautiful young lady in her 20's standing next to that stall. With that simple white Tshirt and jeans shorts and a pony tail, she looked utterly stylish.Yeah! I remember all the details!! I was wearing my shades so I had all the liberty to stare at anybody who were in their shorts. Since in India, we don't usually bump into such beauty on the streets, I just couldn't help but stare. I was looking for the fruit stall owner, after a few minutes, the same lady approached me with a big smile on her face. "Hey there! Are you looking to buy some fruits?" WHAT?? She is a fruit seller???? I would have believed her if she were Chinese (with the whole world being "made in china", the Chinese are found on every corner of this planet). She said "buy three apples for two dollars”. How on earth did she know that I was not going to spend anything more than two dollars!! You have got to believe me, I looked like a fruits seller in front of her, in spite of being a software engineer.
Ever smiled at a stranger?
Once a middle aged lady at the airport smiled at me, just like that. I had no clue why she smiled, because we were strangers to each other. Was there something on my face? Or did my hair look funny? It kept bugging me for some time. Yes! We Indians don't exchange smiles with strangers unlike foreigners. I have noticed it several times, if there is even a minute of eye contact, they instantly smile. The first time I experienced it, I was head over heels! YAY!! A foreigner smiled at me, it felt like I be-friended Barack Obama. (One suggestion,don't ever try this with our people, or you would be sending out a lot of wrong signals!!!!)
Traffic, we hate it as much as we hate losing a match to Pakistan.
It’s very common to see Indians break traffic rules! We try to always rush because it’s only when we are stuck in traffic that we realize, time is precious!! It may also be because, our administrative system is not strict.
We find it really annoying to segregate our wastes.
We bribe god to cut through the queue in the temples!!
I think, we are the number one rule breakers in our own country. But the same Indian in another country cannot afford to break any rules. May be because we follow what we see. But foreigners follow their country's rules, like a five year old following orders from their granny. Their cars are neatly parked, drivers following the lane, public(kids to elders) follow the queue. However crowded the place is, because of public coordination everything is administered in an orderly fashion. With everything appearing so orderly, you yourself get the sense of discipline without anybody's command!
Some Butter Please (makhan maar ke) !
I once heard that, "firangs" have dinner very early. Early is not 8.pm or 9.pm , early is 5.30 to 6.30,in the evening!! Me being a hard core Indian, had two questions, truly and completely based on Indian mind set.
1) What time do they have snacks??
2) Don't they feel hungry again while sleeping??
for us, 7.pm is Pakoda and chai time and dinner would be after 10.pm.
Anyway, I am proud to be Indian and "We are like this only" !!
