Nine things Westerners apologise for in India that nobody minds
A light one, from years of watching people be anxious about the wrong things.
Eating with your hands. Encouraged. Right hand, and somebody will show you.
Not finishing your plate. Fine. Being pressed to have more is affection, not obligation.
Not knowing which fork. There is one fork.
Asking what something is. Everyone is delighted to tell you. Food is a national conversation topic.
Haggling badly. Nobody expects you to be good at it, and in fixed-price shops nobody expects it at all.
Being asked for a photograph. That is somebody being friendly, usually with their family, and it is a compliment. Say yes or say no, both are fine.
Taking your shoes off wrong. You will. Somebody will nod at the right spot.
Not speaking Hindi. English is widely spoken and there are twenty-one other official languages — nobody assumes you have any of them.
Saying no to the fourth cup of chai. Although at that point you may as well have it.
What people do mind, for balance: photographing someone without asking, shoes where shoes do not go, and raising your voice. That is roughly the whole list.
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