Not all women who have gone abroad can accept the culture of another country. This is especially true for such an exotic country as India. Continuation of the story of one of the women living in this country.
I continue my story, the first part of which was published about how Russian wives live in India.
How ordinary people live in India
I turn quietly to Indian nature :-) I already wrote that Indians love to litter on their streets.
But when I arrived and met many of my husband's friends and acquaintances, I was simply shocked at how educated people can throw bottles from car windows, chips bags at their feet, etc.
At some point, I broke down and gave a lecture, so do you think anyone understood me? Another time, when they threw the bottle out of the window, then everyone looked at each other, looked at me and started laughing, oh sorry! I realized that no one got it. The day before yesterday, a friend of my husband, at my remark, began to openly laugh in my face with the words: “Relax, this is India, freedom!” I have no words…
And the men also chew constantly dried pieces of various odorous plants, they are sold in small packages everywhere. Some of them contain tobacco. So when they chew them, the saliva turns orange, so you can see where they spat ... Our whole house, the elevator are filthy, absolutely everything is spit! And these people live here! We have a closed area ....
Indians weigh a million times before they buy something.
Indians save on everything. If your vacuum cleaner works, but it doesn’t pull, it’s pointless to explain that you need another one: “This one works!”
An Indian will never buy a new thing while the old one is working, moreover, he will also take it for repair, even if it is clear that he is breathing its last. And if the repair fails, he will exchange it with a surcharge for a new one. This is widely practiced in India. My washing machine jumping up to the ceiling, I was considered crazy when I hinted at a new one .... and they will always choose what is cheaper.
However, they are willing to spend money on gold. Tours are also not very popular, and then within the country, but to go to a very distant relative for a wedding by train for 8 hours is a sacred thing.
photo www.sunrise.dev.diogenes.ru
Moreover, wedding organizers rent apartments or some hall in a hotel, it may well be even without decoration, they rent mattresses on which you don’t know how many people slept before, throw them right on the floor in rows and guests settle there for a couple of nights.
Fortunately, we have never lived like this, but I was once in such a hall, after 5 minutes I wanted to escape from there, like gypsies or homeless people! They wrapped themselves in saris and everything is ok, they are sleeping. Of course, those who can afford to rent a room on their own will, but why such expenses :-):-):-)
And indeed, some Indians sleep on the floor, even those who have beds, apparently a habit left over from the time when there were no beds. Although they say that it’s more useful this way :-) I asked them, do the sides hurt? No, they say nothing ever hurts, you can only envy :-)
Most families save even on food, they don’t buy any overseas products, they eat only traditional food.
We had a lot of scandals on this topic with my husband, somehow I was not used to counting every penny, and now I count every rupee. And here the point is not greed, but a scrupulous attitude towards money, they treat it very respectfully and every rupee is money for them. Therefore, they will weigh a million times before buying something and buy only if they really need to.
This is their advantage, Indians, with rare exceptions, boast of the money they have earned. Asking how much something costs is not polite. But, if you still ask, they will definitely say that it is very cheap and lie about the price. To not envy!
Astrology is the basis of life in India
photo www.lagna.ru
I have a very big problem with their prejudices. For them, astrology is the basis of life. Not a single Hindu lives without a personal astrologer. And everyone absolutely believes in it. This is science! And, God forbid, you start joking about this topic, they will be offended. Without an astrologer's resume, neither a wedding, nor a major deal, nor a trip will take place. It all depends on the craziness, someone turns - more often, someone - less often.
Also, almost every Hindu wears rings with stones on his hands. As a rule, the rings are of poor quality, as this handmade, but the rich can also find beautiful rings. But the meaning of the rings is not in the decor, so no one cares about the appearance. It's all about the influence of the stone on you and your destiny. Absolutely everyone believes in it.
So if the Guru says that you have to wear some stone, you have to wear it even if you don't like it. Relatives will not leave you alone, and you don’t want to upset anyone either? :-)
About the religion and faith of the Hindus
Yes, about faith. There are no non-religious people in India. Muslims, Hindus, Punjabis, Catholics, Buddhists, Sikhs and others all live nearby. But there is no open hostility, as we have, and this pleases. But still, according to my surveys, Muslims are less trusted.
Religious holidays are a sacred thing, so if any Hindu festival starts, no one goes to work. During September-October, almost every week there was one day off in honor of different gods, and there are many of them in the Indian religion :-)
photo www.bigpicture.ru
Temples are visited on holidays, preferably every day. Some of the rituals are very interesting, for example, recently there was a festival in honor of Lord Ganesh, everyone bought statues of Ganesh, prayed on them for 9 days, and then, according to tradition, drowned them in the river.
They also pray in offices during such festivals. My husband at work for 9 days in the mornings prayed with the whole office for the statue of Ganesh. Everyone brought sweets in turn, such as semolina halva, and before prayer they put it to God, and then ate it, this is called prosad. Kind of lit food.
By the way, in India, many offices have a six-day work week. Hindus get up early, at 6 or even 5 in the morning, take a shower, pray. In every house there is a room, or place, like a small temple where Hindus pray while sitting, called a puja. Then they have breakfast and go to work, dropping into the temple on the way. I already wrote that they take off their shoes in front of the temple, so it’s better not to wear expensive shoes, they can steal. We've lost 2 spanks. In the evening, before going to bed, shower again, pray, and only then eat. And so every day.
photo www.bigpicture.ru
There is also the concept of puzha, as a prayer service, i.e. a pandid (Hindu priest) comes to you, alone or with colleagues, and performs a puja on some occasion, or in honor of a god during a festival. All this is accompanied by special preparation, chanting of mantras and ends with eating food.
This is all very interesting at first, to look, so to speak, and when the effect of novelty passes, it becomes incomprehensible, but what are they doing anyway?
Why they put a flower here, and here they sprinkled rice, etc., but no one can really explain anything to you, and the pandid will not do this, he does not speak English and there is no time. As a result, you just sit, like a participant in some kind of performance, but you don’t understand its meaning. Sometimes they tell you to say some words, and you start to feel like a sheep.
It's not fun, I'll tell you. And it's good if it ends quickly, but if it's for 4 hours? During the puzha, fire is often used, they simply make a fire in a container, setting fire to some branches of a special tree with some not simple composition, and as a result, it smokes so that you cry. In ancient times, they probably did it on the street or their houses had no windows or doors, but traditions cannot be changed, this is sacred!
But most of the people are very nice. They have no hatred towards people of other nationalities or other religions. They are very patient and everyone talks about love and happiness :-)
The theme of love is in the first place among Hindus
In general, the topic love in india in the first place, true love, at first sight and for life. Of course, in large cities the situation has already changed, and the attitude towards sex has become easier, but still, in the majority, chastity plays a very important role.
Let me tell you one incident that happened before my eyes. We were vacationing in Pune, and my husband's friend was in love with one girl, both young, she went to college and lived in a hostel. In the evening we all rested together, everything was very decent, he gave her a present, held a little by the handle and looked at her all the time, without taking his eyes off :-) it was very nice :-)
But, it's 9pm and she's not in the dorm yet! Someone very kind called and told her father that she had not yet come and that she was spending time with a young man. Her father sent his brother, who lives nearby, he took her away, and the next day she was deported to her father's house. That was the end of her college education. But really, why should she need it, anyway, in a couple of years they will marry and she will bake cakes :-) True, with the education of the groom, you can find better, richer :-) These are the customs.
Here marriage is perceived only as for life
To the love of the Hindus attitude is serious. Love, as a rule, is for life, although now divorces are more common.
photo www.getevent.ru
Parents are most often looking for a couple, or a young man can meet his future wife at someone's wedding and ask his mother to find out who she is, or they are looking for an ad in a newspaper. Yes Yes! In ads, they first write what caste, religion, education, and only at the end is height, weight.
In general, appearance certainly plays a role, but not a special one, the main thing is the parameters, the coincidence of horoscopes, the income of the groom, whether the family is good, whether people in the family are happy, his soul, and only then appearance.
Couples are selected, as a rule, harmoniously, I have never seen that she is tall, he is small. They even look alike. Couples created for love by the young themselves are common in large cities, and they are very proud of this and will certainly say so.
But in confidential conversations, I asked women who were married off by their parents, are you happy in marriage? The answer is always the same: "Very". And I believe them, they look really happy. Parents rarely marry children for selfish reasons, only if they are suitable for each other.
In general, Hindus treat marriage as a part of their life - very calmly. Here marriage is perceived only as for life. My husband said this to me even before the wedding: “Just think, this is for life :-)”, and this just bribed me very much.
Yes, divorce happens. For example, one couple divorced because the wife had an abortion quietly from her husband, the husband realized that she did not want children from him, and they divorced. She was lucky her family took her back. Another couple divorced, because the groom before the wedding loved the other, and she refused him a wedding, he got married out of grief. And after the wedding, she forgave him, and he decided to return to her. Like this, so it's also different, you can't guess.
But Indian men mostly loyal, affectionate and will try to do anything for you. The main thing for them in the family is respect. Only with the help of respect can you live your whole life together with each other.
photo www.getevent.ru
The only reason I'm here is my husband. This is crazy love. We, of course, like all couples, quarrel. Once I even packed a suitcase, like everything, I’m leaving for Moscow, but we love each other very much, and everything worked out.
I don't have to worry that his roommate in the office or the secretary will jump on him, that I will stop arranging sex for him, that he will get tired of everything when we have two children and he will find himself a new woman. There will be no more of this nightmare. It's just not possible here. It's just that no one from the family will understand him, he will become an outcast, a rare man will decide on this. Yes, and the mentality is different, they don’t think about this :-) Should you take this into account if you are thinking about marrying an Indian?
You will have a different life...
And yet I recommend not to marry foreigners. Firstly, this is a monstrous adaptation period, it takes years to get used to living in India. It's very hard. But then it lets go and you start to notice good things :-)
But, nevertheless, if you do not know Hindi well and you do not have a job, it is better not to risk it. You will sit alone at home all day, do not rely on the Internet, it does not work here either everywhere and not always, and good speed is money.
In the company of relatives and his friends, you will just be bored. Yes, they will speak English, but only with you. This means that if you ask something, they will give you a short answer and continue to speak in Hindi that you do not understand.
Friends from Russia will forget you quickly. No, they will congratulate you on your birthday, write Vkontakte. But Russia lives its own life, a different rhythm, other things are important, in a year you will no longer understand them, you will simply forget how it is to worry about traffic jams, rudeness in state institutions, rising taxes, and now also opposition uprisings.
You will have a different life, all this will already seem like some kind of madness and unreal. Now you are a stranger among your own and a stranger among strangers. You will always be a stranger here, you will never be perceived as one of your own. And you will feel it all the time.
In the zoo you will be photographed as if you were an exhibit, in the park you will not rest, because you again become the main attraction, and at home you will be spoken to in a language that you do not understand. Yes, by the way, my husband and I speak English, but I really want to be told in the morning: “ Good morning”, and in the evening “Good night” in Russian ...
I appeal to lovers of India, lovers of meditation, etc., who will immediately begin to take my article with hostility. Yes, I understand that almost everything that I complain about, you don't care. But I address my article to Russian women who are thinking about moving to India. They need to know this information in order to make such a weighty decision in their lives.
Elizabeth, specially for the site intdate.ru
I moved to India at the beginning of 2010 and have been living here to this day. Of course, you have to periodically come to Russia because of the limited time of stay on a visa. At first, a visa was issued for one year, but now, for some reason, it is issued only for eight months. Let me tell you more about the beginning of my journey.
Around 2005, I became passionately interested in yoga, and as you know, from yoga to India and its culture is just a couple of steps. About a year after my all-consuming penetration into the culture of India, I met a girl - the same fan of yoga and meditation as I am.
A year later we got married and in December 2010 we left for India together. Stock Money we had a very small one, I would even say, most likely, modest. It was decided to earn a living by freelancing, because jobs with official wages in India are almost impossible to find. In general, after some time of our residence in India, this system began to bear fruit, and now I can say with confidence that this is the absolute truth - in India you can live on $50 a day.
But it's better to start in order. There were a lot of people on the plane on the way here, and what, to say the least, it was packed to capacity. Although such a crowd of people at this time of the year is not at all surprising, because during the Russian winter in India, the warmest time, and, consequently, the most touristy. On the plane they were fed with buns and coffee, which was very nice in itself. So, we flew in comfort. At that time I was an ardent supporter of everything Indian, so neither I nor my wife did any vaccinations before departure, and I will tell you that it is completely in vain. But more on that later.
It should also be mentioned that before traveling to India, you should take a large, or better immediately, huge first-aid kit from home. Many medicines familiar to Russian people are simply not available in India, for example, good antibiotics, enterosorbents, no-shpa and citramone.
So we ended up in India. And this country met us ... mmm ... specifically. Arriving immediately in Goa, we went towards the ocean. The time is 6 am, the whole village is sitting on the beach… why do you think? I don’t even know how to put it literally, I’ll probably say this: “all the locals, well, or almost all, sit out of great need right on the ocean. But then I didn’t care at all, I was on top of bliss from the mere thought that I was in India.
Naturally, at first we had to look for housing. I wanted, of course, something completely inexpensive and preferably close to the ocean. And here it is - a house in Bramakan ... It was just a miracle - a 10-minute walk from the sea, behind a mountain, an empty hut, standing alone in the jungle. We found the owner, who lives in the city, he arrived on a moped, gave the key and said - live, do not worry ... so we did ...
Cashew trees whirl intricately, and flowers exude a delicate aroma! Nothing disturbs the peace and gives complete freedom for meditation. Only a lonely silent neighbor passes by a couple of times a day to let an artificial river into his area. The sacred lake was very close to our new home, and the linen with the powder in it is washed at the same time as the ritual washing.
Again, it didn't strike me as odd at the time. Everything is fine, everything is as it should be, I am nirvana. These were the thoughts that lived in my head at the time. I smiled all the time and was absolutely happy. But this did not last long. Literally before the first food poisoning, which occurred a few hours after the first meal in India.
At first, I felt as if piranhas had settled in my stomach. Then, within five days, I had to use all the remedies for diarrhea brought from Russia. An unforgettable sight, I tell you. And this despite the fact that with such total dehydration, it was natural to drink water only from a bottle. I’ll tell you about Indian water right away. Drinking it raw, rinsing your mouth after brushing your teeth, or even just washing your face, I would not advise anyone. All of the above should be done with bottled water. Fortunately, it is sold everywhere, but I want to warn you, be sure to pay attention to the fact that the bottle is tightly closed, and the local seller would not open it, even in front of you. Otherwise, you cannot avoid poisoning. It’s me who is so smart now, but then I was completely not so knowledgeable in such trifles as it seemed to me.
Let me tell you about our hut. As you can see in the photo, this is a structure consisting of walls and a roof, the floor in our house was stone, there was no door. True, there were only jungles around, so it did not cause any inconvenience. Naturally, there were no facilities for a toilet and shower. And if we managed quite simply without the latter, then without a sanitary facility, especially during the period of illness, it was, to put it mildly, uncomfortable. In general, except for the above, we were satisfied with everything. Every day at dawn we chanted mantras, meditated almost constantly, and ate mangoes and coconuts. Speaking of coconuts. These are the only fruits in India that are safe for Russians to eat, especially during the adaptation period.
We lived in such a hut for about three or four weeks, and then went to visit Russian friends and lived with them for a whole month. They spent the winter in India with the whole family. Since they lived with children, it is natural that their living conditions were at their best. Food and water were also radically different from what we had in the first weeks of our stay in India.
There, both my wife and I got stronger and almost completely adapted to life in India, or rather, I would say, it seemed to us at that time. We ate mainly rice, stewed vegetables and flatbread. They only drank boiled water. Fruits, on the advice of new acquaintances, began to be soaked in laundry soap, and before eating, peel and pour over with boiling water. There was never any poisoning during the period of residence in the house of the Russian family.
Every morning we started with yoga. Then, after a small breakfast, they usually played the violin or crawled on the Internet. Our new acquaintances even had it at home, there was no need to go to an Internet cafe.
I also want to say to all those who are going to move to India, remember that I only met an ATM there once, and even that did not work, so I advise you to arm yourself with cash. I also want to warn newcomers against theft of local residents. Everyone steals here, and not only people, but also monkeys. And monkeys in India are considered sacred animals, however, as well as cows and snakes. Monkeys are not punished for stealing. If a person is bitten by a snake, then she is put in jail. This is the paradox of India. And by the way, the deceased after being bitten by a poisonous snake is not burned, but simply put on a raft and sent to sail, most often to the Ganges. This is done because it is believed that this person did not die, but simply fell into a very deep sleep. I will tell you that it is an extremely unpleasant sight to see swollen corpses next to a crowd of people bathing or washing clothes. But this is the whole of India, a country of absolute paradoxes. The Ganges River is considered sacred by them, and many pilgrims come to it specifically for ritual bathing. As for me, despite all my then immersion in the world of India, I could not bring myself to put at least one toe into this, to put it mildly, not very clean water. Although this water really disinfects a lot, and there is a completely normal explanation for this - there are huge deposits of silver under the bowels of the water, and it is this that contributes to at least some purification of the local reservoir.
India is a country where children are very much loved. Here they are touched on the cheeks, this is something like our Russian “pat on the head”.
During my entire stay in India, I managed to see little girls running to school barefoot, and already adult students and female students studying right on the ground.
India still never ceases to amaze me. Everything is somehow wrong here, a slow and very measured course of life, the constant laziness of local residents, dirt and feces on every corner, snakes and monkeys, creepy insects and very well-mannered dogs. Yes, they are well-mannered, they never bark and lie very neatly everywhere. Hungry, skinny, but with some kind of proud expression on their faces. I once treated one dog, so he took a piece of cake from me with such an arrogant look, no tail wagging, nothing like that is observed in local dogs.
After staying with Russian friends, my wife and I decided to live closer to the mountains. The beauty there, of course, is indescribable, although no, just completely described, however, not only described, but also ... Further, I think you guessed what I want to say. This case here is almost everywhere, it happens, and there is nowhere to step. Solid public toilet.
And on the mountain next to the cave convent. There was a heavy downpour and we asked an old nun to wait it out.
She joyfully signed us in, fed us and put us to bed... and in general she did everything somehow joyfully, constantly singing mantras and saying nothing more. So we lived in this monastery for some time. I have not been able to learn the names. drinking water had to be extracted from a closed well through a narrow hole. Although I jumped a little. The difficulty of obtaining water had to be faced somewhat later. In the monastery, they eat right on the floor from some plates that look more like pieces of cardboard.
Everyone is fed here, or maybe it's just that we were so lucky. I couldn't figure this out, and maybe I didn't really try. A smile constantly plays on the faces of the nuns, often toothless, but certainly very joyful and open. Every morning there was a service in the monastery, the nuns sang beautifully and looked at us cheerfully.
I would like to clarify that all the time described above, we lived on money from freelancing and on small financial savings accumulated back in Russia.
After the monastery for some time we rented a room for 100 rupees. Leaving the house, the ocean was visible. In the heat, it's just bliss. True, there the locals constantly asked us to photograph them.
But this, however, did not bother us in any way, and we were happy to photograph both the kids and, in general, everything that we saw around. Now we are so used to everything that we don’t always carry a camera with us, but then everything was a curiosity and I wanted to capture everything.
Now I will talk about how we moved in India for the first time. Life in India is the absence of any rules traffic. And the longer I live here, the more I am convinced of this. Oncoming traffic practically does not exist, whoever has a larger car is the main one. Drivers constantly press the horn. The noise is such that there is nothing to compare with, perhaps. Once, during the next move from the northern part of India to the south, we noticed that the pass was closed, there were no cars. And then a jeep full of people and knapsacks goes to the eyeballs. It drives past, then backs up, the driver shouts - get in! Where??? Nothing, let's rock! And in fact, in some way still unknown to me, we were able not only to get into this, in general, not a very large car, but also to get there safely. As calm as it is possible in a country like India. I even remember such a case when we spent the night in almost the same conditions that I have just described. It was something... The locals are sexually unsatisfied and it shows in everything. They keep trying to touch or stroke your woman. It was for this reason that the night for me at that time passed completely without sleep.
Public transport in India is also packed to capacity, although it is somewhat similar to Russian buses at rush hour. Nobody ever pays for a ticket, at least we have never paid, and we have not seen anyone from the locals do it. In transport, too, dirt is everywhere. It is better for women to try not to travel in public transport at all for the same reason as described above. Once we got into some kind of baggage car, where the Indians were crowded in three layers! I ended up between the shelves…or rather between the asses… The girls were sitting upstairs sandwiched between men who ate them with passionate glances!
So you can ride in India only with extreme sports and nothing else. We lived in northern India for quite a long time, we also rented a small house without amenities for little money. Everything suited us there, only a strange shadow sometimes covered the view. I did not immediately realize that a monkey had come to us.
We ate there, mostly fried bananas, which we ourselves safely cooked.
Now I hate bananas, especially fried ones, but then it seemed like the food of the gods. Bananas in India are not at all the same as in Russia, there are a lot of different varieties, and those that we are used to in our homeland are not eaten in India even by sacred animal cows.
Now I will tell about our living in India at the moment. I got a pretty lucrative contract and now I live in India on a work visa with my wife of course. We live in a big city, in comfortable conditions, but I am still under constant fear of poisoning myself or picking up something infectious. And we don’t even think about children until the end of the contract. After all Small child puts his hands in his mouth all the time, and in India it can even be deadly.
Even in the city, it would seem, among luxury and wealth, every morning I see beggars or people from the lowest caste on the side of the roads. Someone just lies on the ground, someone sleeps in dwellings built of cardboard and tarpaulin.
And the children, according to my initial observations, are now very happy here in India.
They absolutely do not care about the concerns of adults. By the way, small children here not only put dots on their foreheads from the evil eye, but also bring their eyes up. How they manage to do this is still a mystery to me.
In cities, as in villages, all the locals love to be photographed, as I mentioned above. And they even ask for it. Agree that it is difficult to imagine Russian people, for example, on a bus, who would come up to you and ask you to photograph them as a keepsake.
Now I will summarize a little my chaotic story about India. If you decide to move here, then be prepared for constant poisoning and fear of getting infected with something. Living in India requires you to make all the necessary vaccinations before moving. A lot of them, full list any infectious disease specialist in the clinic will give you. Stock up on antibiotics for the first time, there are few of them in India. It also does not hurt to take the so-called "homeless packages" from home. They will help you survive extreme conditions India. Remember that you may have to live in huts and just in the open, and theft in India is very prosperous, so always carry documents and money on you. Be afraid of snakes and monkeys. The latter, too, like people, are engaged in theft. They very cleverly seize all your belongings, and then carry them to the market and exchange them for food. And don't be surprised, that's exactly what happens. Do not drink freshly squeezed juices in India, although this is a great temptation, you should not do this, otherwise unpleasant consequences for your health are possible. One more piece of advice: nowhere, even in five-star hotels, in any case, do not drink tap water, do not even rinse your mouth with it. Buy drinking water only in bottles. In restaurants and cafes, never order dishes from raw vegetables and do not eat if your order is brought to you slightly warmed up. Food in India should be hot, better scalding. Believe me, I am already an experienced person in this matter and I will not advise bad. Another wish from an experienced resident of India - be sure to carry a flask of alcohol with you everywhere, the stronger the better. I'm not advocating drinking, I'm just saying that if you drink a small sip before and after each meal, you will be less likely to spend the next day hugging a white friend. And of course, when you move to India, bring as much antidiarrheal as possible.
Since the borders of our state were opened for its inhabitants, one of the popular decisions of Russians or citizens of the former CIS has been the decision to change their country of residence. Among other popular states, life in India is considered as a simple and comfortable alternative.
The opinions of compatriots who have already decided on such an act differ so much that it is worth carefully assessing the reality of ideas about this almost mythical state for us and the objectivity of what is happening.
India has successfully become a part of the multinational global space.
In reality, like centuries ago, life in India is strictly subject to the rules called "castes".
Until now, every person in this country belongs to a certain caste.
Only officially, no other Indian will pay attention to the caste of his colleague or interlocutor. From point of view official rules, even the legendary caste of untouchables has rights. In fact, the ranking is preserved. It is all the more noticeable, the higher the caste belongs to the one with whom you need to communicate.
India is one of the few countries in which the original wedding traditions that have come from ancient times have been preserved.
Marriages are "concluded" almost always only by senior representatives of families. People in India do not have the right to choose their own partner for further family life. The wedding celebrations are paid for by the bride's family. This is one of the reasons for expecting the birth of a son and not a daughter. The young must belong to a common religion.
The majority of the population is wary of a long-term partnership, especially marriage to a foreigner. A person here cannot and usually does not want to belong to himself, preferring family and national traditions. This will need to be taken into account when dealing with the local population. It is especially not recommended here to show a negative attitude towards accepted norms.
beauty of indian women
Indian women are very beautiful, but not from a European point of view. Relative proximity to our usual standards appearance, personal care differ, rather, Indian movie actresses. In reality, the local beauty is naturally inclined to be overweight. There is no habit of observing dietary restrictions. Most of the girls from early youth are quite full. Even the most slender of them quickly gain weight with age.
Here, European ideas about female age are unusual. As if in our homeland decades ago, marriages are concluded at an early age. The genetic propensity for early aging turns a former beauty by the age of forty into a wise old woman who has long had grandchildren.
In India, they prefer to stick to the usual traditional bright costumes, choose numerous decorations.
Dirt on the streets of India
The unique dirt on the streets of almost any locality of this state has already become a legend. In the tradition of the country there is no practice of the institution of professional cleaners. It is impossible to hear the measured sounds of a broom in the early morning on the local streets. Moreover, professional and regular cleaning is not carried out even in wealthy neighborhoods. In numerous slum areas of this state, real unsanitary conditions reign. This is important to consider even during a normal tourist trip.
Although in areas where the “travellers' path” is being laid, they try to maintain relative cleanliness. But it is enough just to go to the next street to face garbage and dirt again.
The exception is the state of Goa. Where the streets are washed and cleaned, sidewalks and roads are repaired to create for tourists normal conditions for relax.
Poverty
It is worth considering the presence on the streets, even in Delhi, of a large number of beggars. too high for most of the population, which pushes a large number of residents to this, poverty is very common.
An important difference from the usual beggars in our cities is a polite attitude towards a person passing by, they will not beg in India. Separately, it is worth paying attention to the sannyasi. They are clearly visible in bright orange clothes. These are those who consciously chose the path of renunciation of worldly life and its benefits. These wandering monks don't ask for money. They are used to serving food. In this state, meeting a sannyasi and helping him is considered a good deed. Most of them live permanently in ashrams.
You can see the price tag in a cafe in South Goa in the next video.
Despite the large number of beggars, there is virtually no theft. Even children are not fond of petty theft among Europeans. Thefts are very rare, and minimal measures of respect for your belongings are enough.
All these factors, especially the level of poverty in India, should be taken into account when planning to move permanently or temporarily to this country. Or even in a tourist trip situation.
The role of religion in life
The people of India are not as religious as it is commonly believed. Most of them believe in karma and reincarnation. But it is approximately at a similar level with us in the fulfillment of Christian commandments.
But it is important to pay attention to the lack of tolerance between representatives of different religions, often described as "friendship" between representatives of different faiths. Most repatriates to this country note rather a negative attitude between supporters of different faiths. Most of the population, about 80%, professes Hinduism. About 13% of the inhabitants profess Islam. There are Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches. The locals are wary of those who decide to convert to Hinduism.
Here, despite low level life, has long been a big one. Including children and grandchildren of those who left Russia in search of a better life in the first emigration waves after the October Revolution and the years of the formation of Soviet power. The inhabitants of our country stand out, in different years, contrary to the customs of this state, who created families with Hindus. Most often, a resident of Russia marries an Indian. This is due to the demographic bias.
Official statistics prove that there are more men in the country at the age when they start families than women. The growth in the number of such unions is also facilitated by the strict qualifications for choosing a bride from compatriots. A potential husband must meet strict caste and financial requirements. As a result, finding a spouse abroad is becoming easier and more profitable for many Indians.
The number of potential emigrants to India is noticeably restrained by the policy of official Delhi.
The authorities willingly accept supporters of spiritual practices for temporary residence. They are sympathetic to the long-term residence in their territory of the owners of free professions, earning a living through remote employment. Such guests can even get a residence permit.
Becoming an Indian citizen is much more difficult. There are a lot of requirements for applicants. In addition, for an expat, life in India is incredibly difficult. This is due to a large number of factors.
From the video below, you can learn how to move to India for permanent residence from Russia.
Labor market congestion
This state in terms of population is in second place on the planet. At the same time, most of the population belongs to a young age. More than 140 million local residents reach working age in 2020. For this reason, it is quite difficult for a repatriate to try to break into the labor market. Today, even among the local population is very high.
This is further exacerbated by a significant percentage of job seekers who apply for highly paid positions. More than 500 applicants with proper education and work experience apply for one position in an international corporation. As a result, more than 80% of working citizens of the state are employed in the shadow sector of the economy. Unemployment in India is incredibly high.
Much is said about how badly poor people live in India, but less is written about the life of rich people in this country. However, there are many rich people in India.
Crystal and rubies in the interiors of houses: myth or reality
When it comes to the life of rich people, what do we immediately imagine? Of course, the inlay of various objects precious stones, crystal chandeliers, as well as furniture made from the most expensive types of wood. And all this certainly shines, sparkles, dazzles, shimmers and shimmers.
However, such a representation ultimately turns out to be nothing more than a stereotyped vision.
Take the house of a famous Indian actor named Rajinikanth. Its interior looks like this:
It is quite impressive and large-scale, but in its content it is more like not a palace, but rather a house in which ordinary wealthy Indians live. Most of the houses of Indian celebrities have the following features:
- Minimalism. Many celebrities in their own home want to feel cozy and comfortable, and not like in the walls of the Louvre. Therefore, all items that are chosen to decorate a home can be quite expensive, but they look noble and modest.
- Loft style. Celebrities also follow fashion and are not indifferent to what interiors and styles are trending. Given the fact that the loft style has started to gain momentum, many wealthy people in India have begun to create loft interiors in their homes.
- All the colorful elements are more exotic for, and the rich people of India want to see more of a European style in their home.
The glass interior of Rajinikanth looks quite stylish, but still, life in a transparent house is perhaps not as comfortable as it seems at first glance. All the same, there is a feeling that the media is constantly trying to follow you.
Entertainment and additional elements
Naturally, the homes of rich people in India have not only elegantly furnished rooms, but also additional entertainment and hobby items that can be compared in luxury to imperial palaces. Here is where there is definitely room to roam:
This is the home of a billionaire named Mukesh Ambani, who built his own mansion, spending a billion dollars on it. He built a house for himself, his wife and sons. It has 27 floors, luxurious living rooms, comfortable bedrooms, as well as additional rooms, such as a pool and a billiard room.
It is worth noting that in order to manage such a huge building, Mukesh needed to hire 600 people. In addition to the main rooms, Mukesh has a parking lot, which can easily accommodate 160 cars, as well as a huge gym in which he himself likes to spend time.
In addition, Ambani has an entire dance studio and his own home theater in his house, which can accommodate 50 people. The house has a magnificent observation deck with a wonderful view. There are several helipads on the roof of this skyscraper.
What do we know about India? In the imagination of most people, it seems to be a fabulous, romantic and mysterious country. But what is real life like in India? How strong is its economy? What is the size in India today?
Geographical location and general information about the country
(this is the official name of the country) is a large state in South India with a rich history and culture. It is the birthplace of the ancient Indus civilization, which has achieved significant success in art, urban planning and agriculture.
Modern India occupies the entire Hindustan peninsula, extends to the Himalayan mountains in the north, and has wide access to the ocean in the south. From the western side, it is washed by the waters of the Arabian Sea, and from the southeast - by the Bay of Bengal. The total length of the coastline of India reaches 7500 kilometers.
Today India is home to 1.34 billion people (2017). In terms of population, it ranks second in the world, second only to China. Although, according to scientists, by the middle of the 21st century, India can overtake China in the “demographic race” and take a firm first position.
What does India produce? The country's economy and its structure
India is one of the strongest and fastest growing economies in Asia. The country has the fourth largest GDP in the world ($4.7 trillion). However, per capita income is low at $2,700 per year. According to this indicator, the country ranks only 118th in the world.
The structure of India's GDP is as follows:
- 18% - industry.
- 28% - agricultural sector.
- 54% - the service sector.
The main branches of the Indian economy: automotive, electronics, mining, oil, chemicals, food and pharmaceutical industries. The country is the largest supplier to the world market of mica, bauxite, various equipment, textiles, agricultural raw materials, as well as software and medicines.
The country's economy consumes a huge amount of energy resources (in particular, oil and coal). Agriculture India is extensive. Rice, tea, wheat, cotton, jute, and sugar cane are grown here. Among other things, India is a significant donor of investment. Most of the Indian funds are invested in the economies of Singapore, Mauritius, the Netherlands and the United States.
Currency and average salary in India
The monetary unit in India is the rupee. Fractional coin - pice. Rupee to dollar exchange rate: 68:1 (as of May 2018). That is, for one American dollar you can buy 68. For 100 Russian rubles, you can get about 110 rupees.
The currency of India is presented in coins and banknotes. The smallest denomination in the country is 5 rupees, and the largest is 2,000. The exchange rate of the rupee against the dollar, euro or ruble is constantly changing, so it is recommended to use online currency calculators.
The average salary in India according to the International Labor Organization (ILO) for 2017 is $223 per month. According to this indicator, the country occupies a disappointing 121st place in the world. The monthly minimum wage in the state is 4,000 rupees ($60) for rural areas and 5,500 rupees ($82) for urban areas. It should be noted that the value of the average salary in India has a significant regional differentiation. Thus, the ranking of cities with the highest earnings includes Mumbai, New Delhi, Goa and Calcutta.
Standard of living in the country: main indicators
In the ranking of states by index human development(HDI) India is ranked 131st, between Bhutan and Honduras. In general, India is a country of striking contrasts, where the stratification of society is quite noticeable.
In one city, the poorest slums can coexist with fashionable hotels, boutiques and expensive restaurants. Part of the Indians live in terrible conditions, eating mainly rice and vegetables. At the same time, other segments of the population can afford to have a permanent servant of housekeepers, gardeners and cooks. A list of the following statistical facts will help to better understand the standard of living in India:
- A third of the country's population are illiterate (cannot read and write).
- 90% of Indian cities do not have sewerage.
- Only half of India's cities have access to clean piped water.
- About 300 million people in the country are deprived of access to electrical networks.
- Only 20 major cities in India have municipal public transport.
- Nearly a quarter of India's population lives below the poverty line (less than two dollars a day).
"No force can stop our country on the path to progress!" - these words were recently uttered by the Prime Minister of India. Indeed, India is already among the world leaders in the field of IT technologies. Light industry and high-precision production are developing at a rapid pace. However, whether all this will affect the well-being of the Indians - time will tell.
Let's also find out how things are in India with medicine, education and landscaping.
The medicine
According to numerous reviews of our compatriots who moved to distant India for one reason or another, the situation with medicine there is far from ideal. Medical services in this country are either very expensive or cheap, but of extremely poor quality. However, in recent years, India has become one of the centers of "medical tourism". This is due to the presence of a fairly large number of professional English-speaking doctors.
A large percentage of private and public clinics are equipped with the latest technology, and they employ real professionals. By the way, many of them studied abroad (including in post-Soviet countries). However, treatment in such clinics is available to only 10% of the Indian population.
Education
At this stage, the state is trying to provide school education to absolutely all its inhabitants, including those who live in slums and villages. But many families living in poverty and poverty prefer to send their children not to school, but to work from an early age. Child labor is a serious problem in modern India.
Today, there are about 500 universities in the country. Technical specialties are especially popular. Education in most universities is conducted on English language. The cost of one year of study at an Indian university is about 15 thousand dollars. However, a person with higher education has a good chance of finding a decent and high paying job in my country.
Transport and landscaping
Within the country it is possible to move on various types transport: from traditional trains and buses to very exotic bike and auto rickshaws. The most developed rail transport. The entire territory of India (with the exception of the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir) is covered by a dense network of railways. In recent years, air traffic between major Indian cities has been actively developing.
The improvement of public spaces in India is in an extremely deplorable state. In many settlements, in fact, there are no recreational zones at all. The streets are rarely equipped with sidewalks, there are very few parks and squares. Some Indian hotels offer a unique service - the so-called "day pass". At this time, you can be in the well-groomed territory of the hotel and use a certain list of amenities.
In India, there is a rather acute problem with sanitary cleaning. Dirt and garbage on city streets is quite a familiar picture for this country.
Prices for products and services
In India, prices for local vegetables and fruits are very low. They are very tasty as they are always fresh and available. all year round. Dairy products are more expensive (a liter of good milk costs about 80 rupees), and cheeses are very difficult to find in local stores. The choice of meat is also very limited. More details about food prices are described in the following video.
Communication and Internet services, as well as travel are quite cheap. Clothes and shoes are also cheap. Price for household appliances roughly comparable to Russian ones.
Finally…
Summarizing all of the above: is it worth thinking about emigration to this country? If you look for work here - then only in the field of high technology. Opportunity to work part-time in the tourism industry. As for working specialties, the salaries in India in dollars are extremely low. It is important to note that it is quite difficult for a foreigner to find a job here. To get a work visa to India, you need to conclude a contract with a local employer. At the same time, the monthly salary should not be lower than 2100 US dollars.
