What does the word "culture" mean to you? You might think of the customs and traditions that are unique to a group of people, like the vibrant, colorful festivals that are celebrated in India. However, culture also includes things that can be much more difficult to recognize immediately and more difficult to adapt to.
I studied and worked abroad in Geneva, Switzerland a few years ago. It is a developed nation in the West and people speak English there. The religious background is similar to that of the United States. I expected that I wouldn't experience much "culture shock" going from a big city in the United States to a big city in Europe. To my surprise, there were some cultural differences that I would never have expected. For example, no one in Switzerland wears casual clothing like sweat pants and a t-shirt to the grocery store! People dress nicely when they leave their houses, even if it is just for a quick shopping trip. At work, almost everyone smoked cigarettes! They would take frequent short breaks to go outside together, leaving me alone at my desk because I didn't participate. Cultural differences like this may seem small, but they affect the way you behave, make friends, and even think.
India has, as you can imagine, even more cultural differences.
