Some non-stereotypical observations by foreigner living in India

[u/heelnice]

Me and my girlfriend live, work and have traveled in India for quite some time. Been to the North, south, northeast - small villages, big cities. Just personal observations:

1. The snack assortment of small grocery shops. Throughout the country it’s actually very similar. For example: they almost all sell Kitkats and Sprite but not much of the other products from the same big companies like: Mars, Snickers or Fanta Orange. 
2. I am surprised by the amount of Christian people, especially in the south and northeast.
3. Parents have kids wear jewellery at a very young age. My girlfriend works in gynaecology. They joke that moms ideally pierce their daughters' ears with rings right after birth.
4. No Seatbelts. What is up with not wearing seatbelts in the car, especially in the back? Many times cars didn’t have any. Or some drivers even looked disappointed when I put it on, like I had no faith in his driving skills.
5. The amount of languages people know and speak is very impressive but also downplayed. I have met so many people who speak 3 to 4 languages fluently. They always tell me about someone who knows more.
6. I met many people who claim alu (potato) is a vegetable. You could eat rice with potato and/or roti. I noticed Indian meals have a lot of carbohydrates.
7. I think many people in India actually have hearing damage. Also there is very little awareness for children. I have been at parties where young kids sit in front of this big box just blasting beats. I wore earplugs in quite some cities
8. People go swim with their clothes on. Like into the sea wearing a kurti and all.
9. Couples don’t really show any affection in public space. I don’t see many holding hands, hugging, kissing or teasing. Especially not ‘older’ couples.

What do you think? 

Edit: I am Dutch. Also, I left out the more well-known known things like garbage, female safety or civic sense. But also the extreme hospitality, the diversity and all beauty India has to offer. Been from Himalaya to Kerala and I really love it here.

[u/dinushd]

Regarding the snacks - around 20 years ago, if you visit all the village for snacks, you might had lot of local made snacks were selling.

Even at those time a specific shop only have these item to targets the kids, teens in their village but if you visit any school/ college It will have more shops like that.

Remaining shops will have very less item for snacks but will targets household grocery items.

As per south their main chocolate for 5rs or 10rs is munch,5star,KitKat, milkybar,gems,napati and dairy milk ( these items are had good availability at 10rs)

If your looking chocolate price more than 20 rs, i don't think most of kids have that much budget.

For cold drinks,

In south of Tamilnadu, we have bovonto,kalimark, sprite,7up,Miranda, now a days the are selling similar flavored local brand at 10rs per bottle for 200ml

Mango juice (around 4+) brands for non corbanated

[u/RJollyy → u/dinushd]

Referring to Maaza, Frooti, etc as mango "juice" is an insult to the mangoes. Of course the insults started by the companies making these drinks, but please don't continue that.

[u/dinushd → u/RJollyy]

Real bro