Just a Few Differences

Author: Michelle Fiesta
Project: Jaaga | Hampi Arts Initiative
Year: 2014
Bangalore, India

Our time here in India has definitely been an education in terms of cultural differences; I’m not sure that any amount of reading or attempts at learning what would be different could have fully prepared us. I’ve been keeping a running mental list of the things that I perceive to be strange, things to tell friends and family when I return home and to share with future GIEPers. It’s difficult to tell exactly which “cultures” I’m comparing against, as I’m certain that I have been in touch with many throughout my time here -- Bangalore culture is different from Kerala culture or village culture, Hindi culture is different from Muslim culture is different from Christian culture, and so on. However, here are a few of the differences I’ve noted thus far: Physical gestures Head wagging does not mean indifference or dislike, as I perceived it to mean when I first arrived. At first, it was difficult to get used to a gesture besides nodding/shaking your head, but at this point it’s almost second nature for me to be using it myself. I feel like I’ll be unconsciously doing it when I get back to the US! Phone etiquette In the US, it is generally considered rude to answer a phone call when you’re in the middle of meeting with people, even if it’s a casual social situation, unless the purpose of the phone call is emergency related or time sensitive. Here in India, I’ve noticed it’s very rare for people not to answer the phone when it rings; phone conversations are still very popular compared to the States. Professional etiquette Though I’ve seen a fair number of people headed to work in business clothes, by observing my own work place and the work places of the other teams in Bangalore it seems like the primary dress code for work in India is casual or business casual. Though the tech field is generally considered to be more casual in the US, I’m still used to a slightly more formal setting in terms of clothing. I’m pretty happy for the casual dress code though, especially with the humid or rainy weather that Bangalore enjoys. Additionally, the meeting culture here is quite different than what I am used to in the US (at least, this is true with our project partner). Meetings planned for 4pm probably happen at 4pm sharp, it’s possible for them to happen one or two hours later, or pushed back to the next day. This is quite different from what I’m used to in the US, even with “Michigan time”. Customer service Customer service in India is always surprising, sometimes either dramatically exceeding your expectations or falling drastically short of them. There are some restaurants where a waiter always has an eye on your table and is ready to replenish water, food, or to bring the bill before you even think to ask yourself. Other restaurants will have you seated and disappear for 20 minutes in between each table check-in. Some buses will break down in the middle of the night and offer little information or easy way for reimbursement, while others will let you store your luggage in their offices while you grab a quick tea before the bus arrives. It’s always an experience, and oftentimes I am caught off guard at the generosity of people to accommodate our needs. Collectivist culture One of my favorite things about the culture in India versus the US is the collectivist mindset many people have here. At the end of May I had the opportunity to travel with my teammate Aysha to Kerala for her friend’s wedding, where I met Lamis, the bride, for the first time as well as Aysha’s family. I was heartily welcomed by all, Lamis treating me like an old friend and thanking me for attending her wedding, Aysha’s family feeding me and providing transportation for us throughout the weekend. Overall, I have enjoyed my experience here and love exploring the differences between my own Midwestern-United-States culture and the cultures that I have been exposed to here in India. I look forward to continuing to learn over the course of the last three weeks that I’m here!