The day doesn't start until the ginger-tulsi chai hits the system. But more than the drink, it is the ritual. The chai wallah (tea vendor) on the corner is the unofficial therapist, news anchor, and stockbroker of the neighborhood.

If you want to fit in, never refuse chai. It is considered rude. That tiny, sugary, milky cup is the glue of Indian social life. 3. The Joint Family (Your 17 Roommates) Western culture celebrates the nuclear family. Indian culture celebrates the "everyone-and-their-cousin" family. It is common for three generations to live under one roof.

This lifestyle fosters a unique mindset: Your success is the family's success. Your failure is a family meeting agenda item. 4. The Festival Hangover (Productivity is Seasonal) If you work with an Indian team, do not schedule anything important during October or November. We have Diwali. But also Durga Puja. And Dussehra.

If you take one thing away from this post, let it be this:

But as someone navigating life in this beautiful, chaotic, and deeply logical-illogical country, let me tell you:

You will never be lonely. There is always a grandmother to tell you a mythological story or an uncle to critique your life choices. The Cons: You will never have privacy.