The great dinner divide: Indian get-together leaves this American influencer baffled | WATCH
Viral news: An American Instagrammer shared a hilarious moment in India's dinner party etiquette and caused many discussions regarding cultural differences and hosting traditions.
Differences in culture shape how people live and what they believe in. All the way from modes of communication to social norms, these differences play a role in the way people around the world relate to each other. For Instagram content creator Kristen Fischer, who moved from the US to India in 2021, dinner party etiquette was one of the least expected cultural adaptations.
Dinner before conversation or after?
In a now-viral Instagram video, Kristen shared her astonishment at how Indian dinner parties unfold. Contrary to what typically occurs in the US, where people anticipate eating very soon, she found that Indian gatherings prioritize socializing before the meal.
“I am used to being served food right away when coming to someone's home for dinner. I am always sitting there hungry and wondering when food will be served every time,” Kristen explained. She highlighted, “In India, the conversation is before the meal, and in America, the conversation is after the meal."
The struggle to adjust
Kristen candidly admitted that this is the biggest challenge she has had to face while adapting to the cultural norm of India. She narrated her surprise at people arriving late and not expecting food immediately. "Imagine my surprise when people don't show up on time and don't want to eat right away like I am used to," she shared.
Kristen also says, hosting her guests is sometimes a dilemma. She says that in Indian food culture, no one seems to care if the food arrives hours after guests arrive. "How do you serve guests hours after they arrive? Wouldn't the food be cold? Or I would have to be in the kitchen making the food the whole time and not enjoying being with my guests," she questioned.
Late-night dinners leave her hungry
Another memorable incident was when Kristen had to prepare a sandwich for herself after returning from a dinner party where the meal hadn't been served by 11 pm. "I have been at friends' homes multiple times and left after 11 pm, and they still have not served dinner. They are asking why I am leaving so early, dinner hasn't even been served yet.". And I'm thinking to myself, it is late and I need to go to bed," she shared.
Kristen's experiences highlight the fascinating nuances of cultural differences and how they shape everyday interactions, even around the dinner table.
