An American who speaks Hindi has shared his take on a cultural difference he noticed between India and the US. In a video, he talks about how people socialise at home and how Indian hospitality differs from what he has experienced in America.
The video was shared by American Hindi speaker Drew Hicks. Talking about the difference, he said, “Indian culture aur American culture ka ek bahut bada difference hai, jo shayad bahut logon ko nahi pata hai, aur woh hai logon ko apne ghar bulane ke maamle mein.”
He explained that in the US, meeting someone at their home is not always common. “Dekho bhai, US mein kisi ke ghar jaana already koi common cheez nahi hai. Usually jab log milte hain, toh kisi public place par milte hain, bar mein milte hain, restaurant mein milte hain, coffee shop mein milte hain, but zyadatar log apne ghar par nahi milte.”
(Also Read: ‘Buy buy buy!’: Foreign tourist reacts to duty-free shopping after Delhi immigration)
According to Hicks, even when Americans want to meet friends, they will often choose to meet outside rather than invite them home.
{{/usCountry}}According to Hicks, even when Americans want to meet friends, they will often choose to meet outside rather than invite them home.
{{/usCountry}}He then compared this with what he has experienced in India, where hospitality can be much more personal.
“But India mein bhai ek alag level ki hospitality hai. Pata nahi kya hai, but log sirf ghar nahi bulaayenge. Log family ke saath bithayenge, khaana khilaayenge aur saala tumko wahin sula denge,” he said.
He added that an Indian host may even insist that a guest stay overnight, saying, “Bhai tu kal ja, so ja bhai, tu mere bistar par hi so ja bhai.”
The Indian hospitality he says is hard to find in the US
Hicks said the difference becomes particularly noticeable when it comes to privacy and personal space.
“Main aise logon ko jaanta hoon jinhe main 10 saal se jaanta hoon, but main unke ghar ke darwaaze tak nahi gaya hoon. Unke table par pakka nahi baitha hoon aur definitely unke bistar par main nahi soya hoon bhai,” he said.
He added that in India, it is common for someone to invite you home, offer you food and even ask you to stay the night after meeting you for the first time.
“India jaoge bhai, kisi se miloge, usi din ghar bulaayega, usi din khaana khilaayega, usi din rukwa dega bhai,” he said.
For Hicks, the difference also comes down to privacy. He said that in the US, people can be more private about their homes, while the Indian approach can be much more open.
“But definitely jaisa India wala vibe kabhi nahi hota ki, arre tu yahin ka hi hai bhai. Ruk ja, so ja, kha lo, pee lo. Jo bhi hai, tera ghar hai, mera ghar hai, kuch bhi ho,” he said.
Take a look:
Internet reacts to India, US culture comparison
Hicks’ observations prompted viewers to share their own experiences. One user wrote, “Your Hindi is so good, bro.”
“Totally true. I have so many friends whose houses I have never visited in the US!” another commented.
Another user said, “Sadly, urban India is turning into the US.”
A viewer who has lived in the US for 21 years agreed with Hicks, writing, “You are absolutely right. I have been living here in the USA for the past 21 years, and this is a very common thing. Americans usually don’t invite you to their homes unless you are a very close family member or friend. That too only for drinks.”
The user added, “Us Indians are very generous, hospitable and welcoming. That’s why I miss my home, my India.”
(Also Read: Woman reflects on high-rise living in big cities: ‘Even the slice of the sky is fixed for us’)
Another viewer shared a humorous experience of offering water to a foreigner. “I invited one foreigner to my home and offered him water, like we generally do in India. You know what he said? Water? Why water? Why are you offering me water?”
One viewer also praised Hicks’ Hindi, writing, “Your Hindi is very good. You have become part Indian.”
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)