How do people react when you say you're from India?

当你说自己来自印度时，人们的反应是怎么样的？（2）

以下是Quora读者的评论：

Anand S, Find expert teams to build your tech product @ Logidots!

These are some of the reactions I’ve observed when I said I’m from India to foreigners.

In Singapore

While I was on a cab to my hotel, the driver asked me, Where are you from?

I said India.

Cab driver : Oh, India?

Me : Yeah.

Cab Driver : Your Modi (I couldn’t understand his accent) is very famous. He was a coffee maker and became the President.

Me : Oh Yea, Modi. He is our Prime Minister :)

In Germany

Again, While I was in a cab from Airport, the driver asked me, Where are you from?

Me : India.

Cab Driver : Oh India? It’s a nice place. I’ve been there. Delhi.

Me : Wow, that’s great. How was your experience?

Cab Driver : You have a very rich culture. I like your food though it’s too spicy for me.

Me : I laughed.

Cab Driver : And the driving there is crazy. If you drive according to rules there, you will crash.

当我说我来自印度时，我观察到别人的反应是这样的。

在新加坡

我乘出租车去旅馆时，司机问我:你是哪里人?

我说印度。

出租车司机:哦，印度?

我:是的。

出租车司机:你们的莫迪(我听不懂他的口音)很有名。他是个卖咖啡的，后来成了总统。

我:哦，是的，莫迪。不过他是我们的总理。

在德国

又一次，当我在机场搭乘出租车时，司机问我，你来自哪里?

我:印度。

出租车司机:哦，印度？那可是个好地方。我去过那儿，德里。

我:哇，太好了。你在德里感觉如何?

出租车司机:你们有非常丰富的文化。我喜欢你们国家的食物，虽然对我来说太辣了。

我:我笑了。

出租车司机:在那里开车太疯狂了。在那里如果你按规定开车，肯定要撞车的。

In the US

This time also, it was a cab driver.

Cab Driver : Btw, Where are you guys from?

Me : India.

Cab Driver : India. That’s a nice place. A lot of Indian Software engineers are here in San Jose. It’s like your Bangalore.

Me : Oh you know Bangalore?

Cab Driver: Yea, Our climate is similar to Bangalore.

Me : Yea, That’s correct :)

While in the US, I met another random guy (who was from Brazil) in an Apple store. I was using my laptop. He asked me where I am from. I replied India.

He : India? You guys are very good in programming. I was in Bangalore for a conference and I feel like all Indians are born as coders.

Me : (Laughed), Thank you. Haha. Yes we love coding :)

译文来源：三泰虎 http://www.santaihu.com/48196.html  译者：Joyceliu

在美国

这一次，还是出租车司机。

出租车司机:顺便问一下，你们是哪里人?

我:印度。

出租车司机:印度。那是个好地方。很多印度软件工程师都在圣何塞工作。就像你们印度的班加罗尔。

我:哦，你知道班加罗尔吗?

出租车司机:是的，我们的气候和班加罗尔相似。

我:是的，没错。

在美国的时候，我在一家苹果商店偶然遇到了一个人(巴西人)。我正在用笔记本电脑工作。他问我从哪里来。我回答说印度。

他:印度?你们很擅长编程。我去班加罗尔参加过一个大会，我觉得所有的印度人都是天生的程序员。

我:(笑)谢谢。哈哈。是的，我们喜欢敲代码。

Sathish Kumar, horticulturist and have got my hands dirty while growing food

There are so many instances, some funny, innocent, curious, and rude.

The first time I moved to US was to Ithaca, NY. It’s a small college town, if the students leave for summer break it’s a quite place with beautiful gorges. The college is pretty international but once you interact with the local town people the whole perspective changes. I went to a bible study with one of my close friends and 3 questions were pretty common when they knew I was from India.

1.You must be good at maths

2.You don’t eat beef right ?

3.So, are you going to get arranged marriage.

Second time when I moved to a small town called Evansville, Indiana. The questions were little different.

1.Don’t you guys have lot of engineers?

2.Aren’t all Indians really smart?

3.Do guys still have an elephant army?

4.Are all Indians dark?

这样的例子有很多，有些有趣，有些无知，有些好奇，也有些粗鲁。

我刚搬到美国时，住在纽约州的伊萨卡。这是一个大学城，如果学生们欢度暑假的话，这里是一个有着美丽峡谷的地方。这所大学非常国际化，但一旦你与当地城镇的人交流，你就发现情况不太一样。我和我的一个好朋友学习圣经，当他们知道我来自印度时，他们会提3个很常见的问题。

1.你数学一定很厉害吧？

2.你不吃牛肉，对吗?

3.你打算接受包办婚姻吗?

接着，我搬到印第安纳州的埃文斯维尔小镇。人们提问的问题也差不多。

1.你们印度人是不是有很多工程师?

2.所有的印度人都很聪明，对吗?

3.你们还有大象军队吗?

4.所有的印度人皮肤都很黑吗?

Subramanian Venkiteswaran, Just Another Software Engineer

I was in Korea for official work and i used to go out on weekends. Usually people don’t stare at you in cities. You feel normal in city environment. To visit places, sometimes i go on my own to places out of town. Normally my experience has been good, but one instance i can’t forget.

While going to a place near Suwon, i got a small chit from my guest house to show the bus driver as to place where i should get down. It is very uncommon for people to know English, one in fifty might be able to converse and the number of people who can converse decreases as you move away from cities. Somehow through sign language he made me get down in the right stop. Thanks to him. I could find the place i intend to visit. Now i realized, i don’t know how to go back to my guest house. I just stood in the bus stop ho someone would come whom i can ask as it has always been. Have had people help me before in metro even though language is a barrier somehow both parties will be able to convey. :-)

This time an old couple came to the bus stand. I was standing and was bit hesitant to ask them as they were looking at me strangely. Obviously because of my indian look. Finally i thought, what is the big deal, let me approach them. Just as i started to take steps in their direction, they started talking hurriedly among themselves constantly looking at me. i thought maybe they are discussing something and proceeded further. The next thing that happened really surprised me.

They took off in an instant and ran away, crossed the road and out of sight in a minute. Somehow i felt very bad that just by looks they are judging people, as if i am trying to attack them or as if i am a terrorist. But i try to ignore this thought thinking that they were old people and their point of view would be different.

I have had very pleasant experience in korea with occasional experiences like these. Even though i try not to remember such memories stay forever.

我在韩国工作，周末经常出门游玩。在城市里，人们通常不会盯着你看。在城市环境中你感觉很正常。有时我会自己一个人去外地的旅游景区。多数情况下我的经历都很正常，但有一次经历叫我无法忘怀。

我去水原附近的一个地方时，从宾馆拿了一张小纸条，告诉司机我应该在哪里下车。懂英语的人很少，会说英语的人可能只有五十分之一，离城市越远，会说英语的人就越少。我发现我不知道怎么回宾馆。我站在公共汽车站，希望能来个可以问路的对象。以前在地铁里也有人帮助过我，尽管语言是一个障碍，但最后双方都能弄清楚彼此的意思。

这时，一对老夫妇来到公共汽车站。我站在那里，有点犹豫要不要问他们，因为他们正奇怪地看着我。显然是因为我的印度人长相。最后我想，有什么大不了的，我走过去问问他们吧。就在我向他们走去的时候，他们开始急促地交谈起来，不停地看着我。我想他们可能在讨论什么，接下来发生的事真的让我大吃一惊。

他们立刻起身，跑开，过了马路，一分钟就不见踪影了。我觉得很难过，他们仅靠外表来判断人，就好像我会攻击他们一样，或者说我像个恐怖分子。但我试图甩掉这种想法，他们是老年人，他们的观念可能不太一样。

我在韩国有过非常愉快的经历，偶尔会有过这样的经历。即使我试着不去回忆，这样的记忆也会永远留在我的记忆里。

资料图

Abhijeet Kale (अभिजीत काळे), PhD student at Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur (2018-present)

In 2018, I visited Germany to attend the PhD interview at Max Planck Institute in Heidelberg.

I finished the interview and had been waiting for the shuttle bus at the pickup point in Heidelberg as I had to catch my flight back to Pune from Frankfurt airport. The bus runs between Frankfurt airport and Heidelberg.

I arrived very early at the pick-up point. After some 15 minutes, an old couple arrived and asked me to ensure they had arrived at the right place to board the bus taking passengers to the airport. I answered that they had arrived at the correct place and added that I was also waiting for the same bus. They thanked me and smiled. I welcomed them.

After a minute of silence,

The Old Man (TOM)-: By the way, where are you from? (I don't exactly remember what were the words in our conversation so I’ll generalise the conversation)

Me-: India. Do you know India?

TOM-: Oh! Great! Yes….well I have never been to India but have read a lot about Indian culture and especially PM Modi.

Me-: PM Modi!!

TOM-: I guess he is quite famous in India and has gained enormous popularity.

Me-: Yes. and hence became PM.

TOM-: I heard there is also a huge number of poor people residing in metro cities of India. Like Dharavi in Mumbai.

2018年，我赴德国海德堡马普研究所参加博士面试。

采访结束后，我在海德堡的接机点等班车，因为我要赶从法兰克福机场回浦那的航班。这辆公共汽车正是往返于法兰克福机场和海德堡之间。

我很早就到了接机地点。大约15分钟后，一对老夫妇来了，跟我确认他们这里是不是接机班车的站点。我回答说是这里没错，并补充说我也在等这班车。他们笑着谢谢我。

沉默了一分钟后，

老人(汤姆):顺便问一下，你是哪里人?(我不太记得我们谈话的内容了，概括一下吧)

我:印度。你知道印度吗?

汤姆:哦!太棒了!是的....我从未去过印度，但读过很多关于印度文化的书，尤其是莫迪总理。

我:莫迪总理! !

汤姆:我猜他在印度很有名，非常受欢迎。

我:是的。他就是因此成为总理的。

汤姆:我听说印度有很多穷人住在大城市里。比如孟买的达拉维。

Me-: Unfortunately that is right but situation is rapidly changing from last 10 years.

TOM-: There was a news people die starving on the streets.

Me-: Governments have zeroed in on a poor section of society to get them in the mainstream of development by providing them home under several schemes, proper food in reasonable price, offering free education. We don't claim we are 100% successful but hopefully our efforts are getting some success. Our India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

TOM-: Hmm… I have read that in a news article. That's a really good thing. India will become a huge economy someday. (He smiled)

Me-: Yes.

(After a few seconds of silence)

TOM-: Do you work here in Heidelberg?

Me-: No. I came here for an Interview at Max Planck Institute. Physics PhD.

TOM-: Oh! such an horrible subject. I was very weak at it. You have got great guts. You are going to do PhD in Physics. Good luck!

Me-: (smiling) Thanks.

我:很不幸，但确是事实，但与过去10年相比，变化还是很大的。

汤姆:有个新闻说，街上的人饿死了。

Me-:政府已经注意到社会的贫困阶层，通过了几个政策，要为他们提供住房，以合理的价格提供食物和免费教育，让他们进入社会主流。我们还未取得100%的成功，但希望我们的努力能取得一些成功。我们的印度是世界上增长最快的经济体之一。

汤姆:嗯……我在一篇新闻报道中读到过。这真是一件好事。印度总有一天会成为一个巨大的经济体。(他笑了)

我:是的。

(沉默了几秒钟后)

汤姆:你在海德堡这儿工作吗?

我:没有。我是来马克斯普朗克研究所面试的。物理学博士学位。

汤姆:哦!这样一个可怕的话题。我在这方面很弱。你很有勇气。你要攻读物理学博士学位。好运！

我:(笑)谢谢。

TOM-: So did you like this place,our Heidelberg?

Me-: of course, this city is just awesome. Very beautiful. Particularly, I liked the hill sites near the Max Planck Institute. But I am from such a region of India where I have never experienced such a cold weather. That's a bit difficult for me here to withstand.

TOM-: Yeah I understand. But India is very diverse in that too. Kashmir,Shimla!? They witness snowfall. right?! And Rajasthan has a desert.

Me-: oh yes! I am amazed and delighted that you have good deal of information about us.

TOM-: Hahaha. I read a lot.

Me-: great!

汤姆:你喜欢我们海德堡的这个地方吗? ?

我:当然，这个城市太棒了。非常漂亮。我特别喜欢马克斯·普朗克研究所附近的丘陵地带。但是我来自印度，从未经历过如此寒冷的天气。这对我来说有点难以承受。

汤姆:是的，我明白了。但印度在这方面也非常多样化。克什米尔,西姆拉! ?会下雪的。对吧? !拉贾斯坦邦还有沙漠。

我:哦,是的!我感到惊讶，也很高兴，您对印度的了解很深入呢。

汤姆:哈哈哈。我读了很多书。

我:太好了!

Ravin Singh, Senior Software Engineer at Infogain India (2013-present)

Well it was an awesome experience.

I have visited US few times in past two years. First time (in 2016) when I was in the flight from Hong Kong to Los Angeles , I had an US citizen sitting next to me. Well, he started the conversation which went like this:

He : Hey young man, from where you are?

Me : Hello Sir, I am from India.

He : Wow, I was just there last week at Jaipur in Rajasthan.

Me : Nice Sir, Did you enjoy your stay over there?

He : Yes, it was a memorable journey. And then he started telling me what he did during his stay at Jaipur.

Me : Good to hear Sir.

He : Have you been to Jaipur?

Me : No Sir.

He : Come on, How come you miss that place ? You should visit.

Me : ( bit disappointed with myself) Sure, I will go.

He : What do you like most about your country?

Me : (After thinking about 10 sec) The best thing which I like about my country is Unity in Diversity.

He : And I like your Prime Minister Mr. Modi, I have never seen an active leader like him.

I cannot tell you guys how much happy and proud I felt at that moment. I replied - thank you sir, yes our Prime Minister is an amazing person.

Feel proud to be an Indian.

这是一次很棒的经历。

在过去的两年中，我来过美国几次。第一次(2016年)，我从香港飞往洛杉矶，邻座是一位美国公民。他是这样开始跟我聊天的:

他:嘿，年轻人，你来自哪里?

我:你好，先生，我来自印度。

他:哇，我上周刚刚去过拉贾斯坦邦的斋浦尔。

我:很好，先生，您在那里过得愉快吗?

他:是的，这是一次难忘的旅行。然后他开始告诉我他在斋浦尔做了什么。

我:很高兴听到你这么说，先生。

他:你去过斋浦尔吗?

我:不，先生。

他:你怎么会没去过那个地方呢?你应该去的。

我:(对自己有点失望)当然，我会去的。

他:你最喜欢你的国家的什么?

我:(思考了10秒后)我最喜欢的地方是大家在丰富的多样性中团结携手。

他:我喜欢你们的总理莫迪先生，我从来没有见过像他这样活跃的领导人。

我无法告诉你们，在那一刻我是多么的快乐和自豪。我回答说——谢谢你，先生，是的，我们的总理是一个了不起的人。

我为自己是印度人而感到自豪。

Harshit Gupta, Research Engineer (2017-present)

I have been to South Korea recently and when i interacted with the natives and told them I am from India, the response which I got from them really took me by shock. When I used to travel I like to interact with the locals of that places and I would like to narrate some amazing incidents over here:

In Jeju island, An island in South Korea, a popular tourist destination. The thing is that this place is mostly inhabited by the natives and you will hardly find any person who could speak in English. But these people are really friendly and helpful and they try to understand what we are saying to them.

Over their I hired a cab, when he came for the first time I greeted him with Anneyong Haseyo (“hello” in English) but he replied with Namastey. I was shocked for a moment. Then he said, “ I thought you guys are from India”. Then I said we are from India only but the way you greeted us really mesmerised me. He said, “ India is full of different cultures and he also expressed his wish to visit Taj Mahal”.

Then in Jeju only i met one couple. I told them I am from India but they took it as Indonesia. I tried to explain them it’s India not indonesia but they didn’t knew. Then suddenly they came up with a word “Hindu” . This reply again shocked me. I think ancient learning in countries like and South Korea, India is pictured as a Hindu country. But I really didn’t understand how they came up with that word.

When I was in Seoul, the capital of South Korea and one of the tech hub in the world. The city as lively in night as in day. This place will never disappoint you. It’s so beautiful. I went to one shop for shop. The owner of the shop was lady. She was very cheerful and talkative. I told her I am from India, for which she replied Mahatma Gandhi and Modi. Gandhi Ji name we can expect that people around the world knew him. But the name of Narendra Modi was quite unexpected. This really makes me feel proud that the prime minister of our country became so popular in such a short span of time. I think India is becoming popular in the world.

我最近去了趟韩国，当我和当地人交流，告诉他们我来自印度时，他们的反应让我非常震惊。我过去旅行的时候，喜欢和当地人交流，但这次我遇到了令人惊奇的事情:

在济州岛（韩国的一个岛屿，一个受欢迎的旅游目的地）。这个地方的主要居民都是当地人，你很难找到会说英语的人。但这些人真的很友好，乐于助人。

我雇了一辆出租车，当他第一次来接我的时候，我用英语“hello”(你好)和他打招呼，但他的回答却是“Namastey”。我一时惊呆了。然后他说:“我还以为你们是印度人呢。”然后我说没错，我们是来自印度，但你这么打招呼真的让我惊呆了。他说:“印度有着许多不同的文化，而且他还说他想去泰姬陵看看。”

然后在济州岛我遇到一对夫妇。我告诉他们我来自印度，但他们误以为是印度尼西亚。我试图向他们解释印度不是印度尼西亚，但他们不知道。然后他们突然想到了一个词“印度教徒”。这个回答再次使我震惊。在和韩国的古文化中，印度被描绘成一个印度教国家。但我真的不明白他们是怎么想出这个词的。

我去了韩国的首都首尔，这里也是世界科技中心之一。这座城市白天和夜晚一样热闹。这个地方永远不会让你失望，美不胜收。我去了一家商店购物。这家商店的老板是位女士。她非常开朗健谈。我告诉她我来自印度，她的回答是圣雄甘地和莫迪。她知道甘地的名字我并不觉得奇怪，毕竟全世界的人都知道他。但是她竟然还知道纳伦德拉·莫迪的名字，出乎我的意料。这真的让我感到自豪，我们国家的总理在如此短的时间内变得如此出名。我认为印度在世界上越来越受欢迎。