"Are you from Andhra?"
No.
"You look like a Telugu and you speak Telugu so I thought Andhra."
I am a Tamilian, aunty.
"Oh, Tamil Nadu. What is so good about Tamil that you refuse to speak other languages? It is so hard to talk to you people."
Sorry about that. Do you speak other languages?
"No no. We are from Visakapatnam. Everyone speaks Telugu there. By the way, I made sambar for lunch. Even your Sambar is very different from ours. Anyway, it is always good to meet other Indians. You are a hindu only, no?"
(In Hindi) Conversation with Neighbor 2 :
"Where in the North are you from?"
I am from the South, actually.
"Really? You look like a north Indian and you speak hindi. That's why I started talking to you."
Nice talking to you too. I am from Andhra Pradesh.
"Accha, Madrasi. Why don't you people learn Hindi there? That's why we never talk to Madrasis."
Yeah, you can call me that. Do you speak any other language?
"In Ranchi only Hindi people live. You South Indians drink coffee and we only have Chai at home. So let me bring you some water. After all, we are Indians in a foreign land."
(In Tamil) Conversation with Neighbor 3 :
"So you are a Tamilian?"
Yes.
You look like a Tamilian but your tamil sounds different. What did you have for breakfast? Pongal or Upma?
Well, I was raised in Hyderabad but I had a sandwich.
"Oh, Hyderabad. Goltis. Even if we talk to them in English, they reply in their language. Guess you don't drink filter coffee anymore then? Our Indian culture is dying. We're all becoming Americans in this country."
(In English) Conversation with Neighbor 4 :
"So where are you from?"
India.
"OMG India! I've heard so much about your gorgeous country. There are so many different cultures, religions, languages and you all live in such unity! And wow you're an Indian but you speak English so well.
What do you mean? We Indians speak a lot of different languages, including English.
I mean, the Italians mostly speak Italian. The Chinese speak Chinese. I'm so glad you speak English. I feel like I finally found a neighbor that I can talk to!
You bet! I'm really glad you speak English too, although that's probably the only language you speak.
Yeah, we Americans! But I love Indian food - Dosa, Naan and curry. I make Naan and Paneer sometimes. I'm sure you're a better cook but I'd love for you to try mine sometime."
