6 Signs You’ve Studied Abroad in India

To celebrate the launch of the latest QS University Rankings: BRICS, we’re exploring student life in the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa). Needless to say, if you study abroad in India for a semester or longer, it’s likely to be an incredible experience that could potentially change you a person, perhaps even irreparably…  Read on for seven signs that you’ve studied abroad in India, so you know what to expect.

1. You drink Thums Up like water.

Thums Up is essentially India’s national soft drink. Oddly enough, other brands like Sprite or Fanta, often associated with the 90s, also remain very popular in India. So, don’t be surprised if you find yourself trying to order a Sprite when back home.

2. You take cheap and delicious nourishment for granted.

According to Numbeo, a meal at an inexpensive restaurant in India would set you back INR 150 (~US$2), while a three course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant would cost you INR 600 (US$9). Food prices in India are absolutely phenomenal. Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan or a voracious meat-eater, your taste buds and wallet should be pleased with the array of fresh affordable options available on the go.

3. You have your tea in a bag.

When abroad, it’s not uncommon to find yourself confronted with an inexplicable custom – a habit so disconcerting at first that it triggers in you a chain of dark existential crises. The habit of using plastic bags as Tupperware or cups are a very common sight in India, but trust me, you will be grateful for those chai/sauce bags, as you spend more time in India.

4. Crowds don’t intimidate you.

With a population of 1.2 billion (and counting), according to the World Bank, India is home to quite a few people… From nipping to the shop to buy some biscuits to commuting to university, daily life while you study in India will involve weaving through traffic and crowds.

5. You’ve seen some of the world’s most beautiful sights…

… and you’ve become, frankly, harder to impress. A view of Big Ben just doesn’t quite cut it anymore. From the azure waters of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the heights of the Himalayas, to the eerie atmospheric mists of the Ganga River, India is a place of extreme natural beauty, home to some incredibly beautiful and humbling sites and sights.

6. You actually miss the motorcycles.

Honda announced in 2015 that it had reached the 20 million sales mark. Scooters are a vehicle of choice among middle-class families in India, being relatively affordable and able weave in and out of India’s congested traffic fairly rapidly. Though this can be irritating (and dangerous), the two-wheelers will become so entrenched in your memories of India that you may even grow to miss them when you are home.