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India Culture, Customs & Business Etiquette For Western Expats

Present day, 'India culture' – the result of 5000 years of evolution – blissfully remains unique, despite the changes brought about by globalization.

With the huge job and business opportunities that globalization has generated in India, traveling, living, working and even retiring here has never been more popular, as current migration patterns show.

India is a land of contrasts and contradictions where…

  • Foreigners are welcomed as guests despite the huge cultural divide

  • People are prejudiced against the West yet obsessed with it

  • There's drought in one part of the country while there are floods in another

  • People are spiritual yet materialistic

  • The rich minority flaunts wealth and flouts rules while the poor majority stoically believes in karma

  • Bovine traffic enjoys right of way while luxury cars totter over potholes

  • The names of streets, stations and airports and even cities are prone to change triggered by changes in the ruling party making signboards obsolete before the paint dries…

    All signs of the times… 'India Shining' reflects all this and shines on!

    There's something about India...

    Adjusting to a different environment and culture in any foreign country can be a traumatic and stressful experience, and saying that India culture is no exception is an understatement!

    When you move to a foreign country, you’ll need to adapt to a new environment and the challenges of a new job, a new home and a totally new physical environment, which can be overwhelming. In your home country you may have left a job where you were the boss, felt in total control and knew everyone. As an expat, you may be virtually a trainee and not know any of your new colleagues.

    You need to adapt to new customs and traditions and discover the Indian way of doing things.

    Namaste

    It’s best to begin by socializing…

  • Sharing the afternoon chai and samosa with neighbors

  • Toasting a work colleague’s success with Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL)

  • Deciphering Hinglish (Indian English)

  • Dancing the Dandya Ras

  • Performing a graceful Namaste

    But before that, you can gain India culture wisdom by…

  • Uncovering historical events that made India what it is today

  • Exploring its geographical features

  • Learning about its people

  • Discovering business opportunities

  • Sourcing accommodation

  • Identifying the best options for your child’s education

  • Locating health facilities

  • Deciding your mode of transportation

  • Getting information on immigration & visa

    And while at that, you’ll learn that Indians play as hard as they work. They love…

  • Cricket

  • Bollywood

  • Festivals – they're in the hundreds!

  • Shopping

  • Indian food – you’ll love it too!

    Of all the guarantees you’ll be offered during your stay in India, I guarantee this guarantee – your experience of 'Incredible India' will be unique.

    Come, take your first step on the journey to discovering Indian culture – begin by clicking open any one of the ‘doorways’ on the left…

    Oops! Sorry about that – these signs really work! That’s the first lesson about the contradictions lying underfoot, as you wade through the mazes of India culture☺

    Swagatam! (Welcome!)

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