For Americans relocating to India, the cultural differences can be both entertaining and enlightening. Kristen Fischer, a US citizen who first visited India in 2017 and now resides in New Delhi, effectively captures this experience. As a mother of three who identifies as “Very Videshi,” Fischer frequently shares observations about the cultural contrasts between the US and India on social media.
In her latest Instagram video, she emphasizes the disparity in seasoning food: while Americans typically rely on salt and pepper, Indian cuisine incorporates an array of spices, including aamchur (dried mango powder), dhaniya powder (coriander powder), haldi (turmeric), chilli powder, garam masala (a spice blend), jeera powder (cumin powder), and kaali mirch (black pepper).
Fischer also points out differences in mealtime customs. In the US, dinner may start as early as 5 PM, whereas in India, it is common to dine around 10 PM. She contrasts coffee and tea cultures as well, noting that Americans often prefer large to-go coffee cups, while in India, small cups of chai are designed to be savored slowly.
Additionally, she touches on dining etiquette, highlighting that while Americans typically use forks, eating with one’s hands is a widespread and culturally accepted practice in India.
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The video has gone viral, prompting a flood of comments from social media users. One user remarked, “USA: Cold coffee, India: Hot coffee, USA: Chai tea latte in Starbucks, India: Chai.” Another commented, “Some things in the USA are good, like an early dinner, which was also followed in India, but later, due to industrialization, dinner became late, which is not ideal for kids, especially.”
Further engaging with the content, one user stated, “My mom always brings back cute coffee sets from India since she loves the perfect size cups.” Another humorously asked, “Excellent, so which one do you prefer now? Are you ready for Indian citizenship now?” while one comment read, “You are more Indian than most Indians in India.”
What are your thoughts on this video? Let us know in the comments below!
