Задание №10 — Чтение

Religion is taken very seriously in India. It is important to show due respect to religious buildings, images, and people at prayer. When entering a temple or mosque, remove your shoes and leave them at the door. Socks are acceptable, and protect your feet from burning-hot stone ground. Some temples do not allow you to enter wearing or carrying leather articles. In the southern state of Kerala, most Hindu temples are closed to non-Hindus, but those that aren’t require men to remove their shoes and shirts before entering.

The biggest minefield of potential failure has to do with eating. This is usually done with the fingers, and requires practice to get it absolutely right. Rule one is: eat with your right hand only. While you can hold a cup or utensil in your left hand, you should not eat, pass food or wipe your mouth with your left hand. This rule extends beyond food. In general, do not pass anything to anyone with your left hand, or point at anyone with it either. You should accept things given to you with your right hand – though using both hands is a sign of respect.

Indian people are very conservative about dress. Women are expected to dress modestly, with legs and shoulders covered. Trousers are acceptable, but shorts and short skirts are offensive to many. Men should always wear a shirt in public, and avoid shorts away from beach areas. These rules are particularly important in temples and mosques. Men are similarly expected to dress appropriately with their legs and head covered. Caps are usually available on loan, often free, for visitors, and sometimes cloth is available to cover up your arms and legs.

Kissing and embracing are not accepted in public. In more conservative areas, it is still rare for couples to hold hands, though Indian men can sometimes be seen holding hands as a sign of “brotherliness.” Be aware of your feet. When entering a private home, you should normally remove your shoes. When sitting, avoid pointing the soles of your feet at anyone. Accidental contact with one’s foot is always followed by an apology. Knowing and following these rules vastly improves the impression you make on local people.

As a traveller, you will constantly come across people who want to strike up a conversation. English not being the first language in India, they may not be familiar with the conventional ways of doing this. Indian English can be very formal, and even ceremonious. Indian people may well call you “sir” or “madam,” even “good lady” or “kind sir.” At the same time, you should be aware that your English may seem rude to them. In particular, swearing is taken rather seriously, and casual use of offensive words is likely to shock.

You may find it odd, or even intrusive, that complete strangers would want to know some personal stuff, but these subjects are considered polite conversation between strangers in India. They help people place one another in terms of social position. Your family, children, job, even income, are not considered “personal” subjects, and it is completely normal to ask people about them. Asking the same questions back will not be taken amiss – far from it. Being curious does not have the “nosey” stigma in India that it has in the West.

If you are not religious, travel alone, or stay in cheap hotels when, as a tourist, you are relatively rich, people in India will find it strange. You will probably end up having to explain the same things many times to many different people. It is more likely to happen if they are older or more traditional. On the other hand, you can ask questions too, so you could take it as an opportunity to understand more about India. English-speaking Indians and members of the middle class are usually extremely well-informed and well-educated.