There are over a billion people living in India, which means that 18% of the world population lives in India. It is therefore not surprising that there is a rich supply of languages, traditions, holidays, food and culture among the various Indian households.
In India, the family is the cornerstone of life and it is the key word behind the structure of a diverse nation with 18 official languages and religious groups including Hindi, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism and Zoroastrianism.
As a country that begins with letter I according to Trackaah, India gained its independence from England in 1947 through non-violent resistance movements and has made huge progress economically. Almost 70% of the population still lives in the countryside, although the major cities of India are growing steadily.
The Indians are a social people and they love to eat together and hold large gatherings, which often occur spontaneously.
- CAPITAL CITY: New Delhi
- LANGUAGE: Hindi and English
- CURRENCY: India Rupee (INR)
- AREA: 3,287,263 km2
- POPULATION: 1,293,057,000
People and community
Humility, respect for the elderly and anti-violence tend to be universal values in India. Indians usually focus more on the needs of the group than the needs of the individual. The communication tends to be pretty indirect and you will rarely hear anyone say a direct no to an invitation.
You can get to live anywhere in India. No matter where you are, several generations often live under one roof, and decisions about education and marriage are often made with other family members on board. The Indian sense of community means that one is expected to spend a lot of time together in the family.
Schooling
You can choose a traditional school program or a boarding school program. According to TopSchoolsintheUSA, the language of instruction is English in both programs. In the boarding school program, you will go to school on weekdays and be with your host family on weekends and holidays. On the traditional school program, you will probably have to go to an 11th grade class at an Indian public school. Depending on where you are located, your school year may start in March (Delhi) or in June (South India). In both programs, you can choose between different lines at school, which you follow every month, and there will be leisure activities. Education is quite demanding in India.
Language
Hindi and English are the official languages, but you should probably expect to speak English during most of your stay, and therefore it is good to know some English before departure. There are 22 different languages which have been recognized by the Constitution of India as well as other local languages and dialects depending on the area.
Food
Food is a big part of Indian culture. Meals are often full of flavor and often well seasoned, but there is a big difference between the regions. The meals are also a great time to socialize and be with your host family. Indian cuisine consists of lots of vegetables, beans, lentils, rice and sometimes meat so vegetarians have plenty to choose from. Vegetarianism is also quite common in India.
