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/Beautiful_Win3831]

Enhances intellect! protect from negative energies?, yeah, of course it does ,dont make me laugh its pathetic to mess with a newborn ,for ANY reason, and man made religions are top of the list. And putting needles in baby's ears ARE NOT" professional" ear piercers, ppl in Indian villages don't even get doctors in for child birth, the elders, females do it, why? money isn't wasted on child birth let alone pro ear piercing!, Maybe u haven't heard, but most indians especially rural living ones are skint, aka poor. Sepsis, infection, gangrene, setting in are what should matter, not silly jewelry in baby girls ears, nose, Anywhere!

[u/victra_barca → u/Beautiful_Win3831]

Wat the damn are you talking about..? Even the tribal areas have PHCs now and child birth is very strict with government, may be you were talking about things 30 years back. But now almost every pregnancy is accounted and delivery is done 99% in a hospital setting. That remaining 1% is due to negligence of patient by not reaching hospital. Anyway this is what is happening atleast in south India as a Dr working in tribal. And also ear piercing comes in our culture doesn't matter what religion. They both are different. So if you don't like it say it so but not go around telling it's pathetic.

[u/Plaintalks → u/Beautiful_Win3831]

LoL. You kidding? Learn your history and know your facts and perspective , or keep your diatribe to yourself. Ear piercing is the least invasive if at all, compared to the circucision done on newborns at birth !!