Right now, I’m on a trip to Dharamshala and the nearby areas in Himachal. I have known a family there since childhood who are old family friends and it was really special to meet them after a long time. Their son, whom i call bhaiya (elder brother) showed me around. I’ve always loved mountains, and being there very close to nature felt very healing for me. I visited a pottery village and made my own piece. I also tried a lot of Tibetan and home cooked Himachali food. We visited Bir Billing, which is famous for paragliding. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t clear up so we couldn’t take off but it was still a great experience to be there. We visited a local tea factory, where I got to taste different types of tea. Bhaiya also showed me some hidden spots in the mountains that only a local would know. Sitting on top of the Himalayas and looking at a waterfall was just so refreshing. I find people here are very warm and genuine. They trust each other. They also keep their surroundings really clean. I also learned more about his holiness Dalai Lama, since Dharamshala is his home. Oh and also I encountered snakes couple of times but luckily, I wasn’t alone. Snakes are one of my biggest fears when traveling in India. I have attached some photos of my travels as I noticed others have done it too for this prompt, though I won’t include any family photos for privacy reasons.

My country India is very culturally diverse. We have many languages, dialects, religions, and traditions, it’s almost like having many countries within one. When our Constitution was written, it was built on the idea of secularism so that everyone, no matter their faith or background could feel they belong here. But lately, I feel this diversity has at times become a reason for people to divide. Sometimes, when people strongly identify with a certain culture, they begin to see others as “different.” For me diversity is such a beautiful thing and should be a reason for people to connect, not pull apart. I see this not just in India, but around the world too. The world feels increasingly divided along cultural lines in the last few years. I know I’ve gone a bit off-topic here, but that’s what it feels like

The single best you can do is make healthy habits automatic. When these habits become your default way of living they stop feeling like efforts. Some simple habits that you can add to your life: 1. Add more movements in your daily routine. Like skip the elevator, take the stairs. If you have a desk job, use Pomodoro (e.g. 30 minutes of work, 5-10 minutes of walking). Do these things so often they becomes a cue-routine-reward loop. Also make movement fun not forced. Like long walks, weekend hikes, martial arts, yoga, dance - whatever lights you up. 2. Eat colourful diet. More veggies, more fibre, more whole food. Your gut is full of helpful bacteria that love diversity - it’s called gut microbiome health. Try to prep your meals the night before if you have a busy schedule. Don’t ever keep junk at home. Out of sight, out of stomach. When you start eating fresh, real food consistently, your taste buds literally neuroadapt and junk food start tasting too fake. Limit or completely cut off sugar, alcohol, and fake stuff. 3. Surround yourself with people who have healthy habits. “Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are”. 4. Protect your mental diet too. Junk thoughts are as harmful as junk food. Stop doomscrolling. Feed your mind with good stuff - books, music, nature. Most importantly spend quality time with people you love. And ofcourse a good quality sleep. We glorify hustling, but poor sleep ruins everything. Dim the light and keep yourself away from screen time before sleep. 5. Get your health checkups done. Do a full-body checkup yearly. Many deficiencies - like vitamin D or B12 show no symptoms at first. But they silently wear you down. Blood tests are like a roadmap - they help you course-correct early.

My country is very diverse so here, I’ll share about the culture of the state I belong to - Haryana: - We never visit friends or relatives empty-handed as it is considered rude. Even something simple like a box of sweets is expected. - Traditional clothing is still very common, especially during festivals, weddings, and family visits. Women wear outfits like Daaman, Kurti, and Chunder or sarees. In small towns, many women still follow the ghoonghat tradition, which is covering their head with a veil in front of elders or guests. - Hospitality is a big deal. Guests are welcomed like family. It’s not unusual for relatives to stay for a week or more, and the host makes sure they’re well-fed and comfortable - We live in a community-first culture. Friends and family can drop by anytime, even unannounced. Life is more about “we” than “me.” - In smaller towns and villages, home-cooked food is the norm. Most places don’t have restaurants or cafes, so fresh meals made at home are part of everyday life. Some of traditional Haryanvi dishes are bajra roti, singri, parval or kachri sabzi, hara saag, bathua raita, lassi etc. (idk their names in english) - During winters, it was a norm in most Haryanvi families to prepare sweets like churma, gond ke laddu and khoya barfi at home. - My family is pure vegetarian, and that’s quite common in our state. - Most homes have a small Hindu shrine, and we start the day with a small puja - Chai (especially masala chai) is a must for every guest. Even if you’re visiting for just a few minutes, you’ll be offered tea, and saying no feels almost rude.

Dieser Beitrag ist für deutsche Muttersprachler. Ich lerne gerade mehr über eure Kultur, und es gibt so viele Dinge, die ich wirklich bewundere. Zum Beispiel mag ich es, wie direkt und ehrlich ihr seid - kein smalltalk, sondern einfach klar und auf den Punkt. Mir ist auch aufgefallen, wie effizient euer Mülltrennungssystem ist, wie ihr Flaschen über das Pfandsystem zurückgebt und wie oft ihr energiesparende Geräte benutzt. Was ich auch sehr schätze: Ihr respektiert die Zeit – ihr seid pünktlich und haltet euch wirklich an Absprachen. Und dann natürlich eure Work-Life-Balance - soweit ich weiß, wird das, was im Vertrag oder Tarifvertrag steht, bei euch auch wirklich eingehalten, was in vielen Ländern eher selten ist. Deshalb wollte ich fragen: Welche kleinen, praktischen Dinge macht ihr im Alltag noch, die diese "deutsche Effizienz“ widerspiegeln oder euch helfen, diese Balance zu halten?

Today, I had a day off to study. Delhi’s weather is still hot and humid, but the monsoon is slowly arriving. The sky was mostly cloudy. It’s still quite warm, but better than the dry summer heat. I decided to go to Lodi Gardens in the afternoon. I wore a long, flowy cotton skirt - something that feels nice in this kind of weather. It kept me cool and comfortable as I walked and studied. I found a spot under a big peepal tree. In front of me was one of the old Mughal tombs. It was a peaceful view to study with. A group of university girls were sitting nearby with their books. After a while, they started chatting with me. We spoke for a bit, and they sweetly offered me some kokum juice they had brought along. It was perfect for the hot afternoon. Between studying, I took slow walks around the garden. By evening, the weather had changed. It started to feel cool. The sky was getting darker, and I could feel the drop in temperature. I packed my things and left just before sunset, feeling refreshed and a little tired. So yes - this was meant to be about the weather, but I guess I ended up telling all about my day too.

If I learn German the way it's spoken in Germany, will I still be able to understand the German spoken in Austria? Also, are the differences between the two kind of like Dutch vs Flemish?

I can think of a couple of my favourite characters (all are from Bollywood movies). One character I liked was the character of Mohan from ‘Swades’. Initially he came across a bit disconnected. He complained a lot and focused mainly on what was wrong around him. But as the story progressed, his character evolved. He began to understand the spirit of the people in the village. His character had a quiet gentleness about him. Also, I liked that despite working in NASA, he never behaved arrogantly with the people in the village, rather he was the complete opposite. I also liked how he treated the female lead. He respected her views and saw her as his equal. He didn’t try to overshadow her. There were a few moments where I didn’t completely agree with his actions, but overall, I found his personality very grounded. Another set of characters I liked are Geet and Aditya from ‘Jab We Met’. Geet was a vibrant and bold character. She was full of life. At times, she was impulsive, yes, but also a risk taker and didn’t want to live life shaped by society. The character of Aditya starts off as logical and weighed down by his emotions. But his character evolved after spending time with Geet. She gave him a new perspective in life and helped him reconnect with his emotions. I liked the character of Aditya most in the second half of the movie. He became so emotionally mature. He was so chivalrous and protective towards Geet and was there for her even when she didn't ask his help or even informed him about what all happened to her. He put her happiness over his in many instances, which was just so touching.

One thing I think schools (in countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc.) should teach (especially in smaller towns/rural areas) is gender equality. In patriarchal societies like these, girls are rarely encouraged to speak up, express their ideas, or say what they truly feel. As a result, many girls grow up without knowing how to set healthy boundaries or make their own decisions. This later affects their self-confidence. Schools should teach girls from a young age: - it's okay to express their feelings and needs - It's okay to say "no" without guilt - to be celebrated for their ideas and strengths, not just for how they look or how obedient they are. Along with this, financial literacy should be taught as well. They need to learn how to budget, save, invest, and understand taxes, because often, these skills are handled by the male members of their families. When they suddenly need to manage things on their own, it can become intimidating. Lastly, one of the biggest things is giving them the opportunity to make choices. Often, decisions are made for them. If schools provide girls the space to make decisions early on, they’ll gradually build trust in their own judgment and learn to lead their own lives.