Observations.

The Kids.
Every single one calls you Aunty and wants to hold your hand. They'll ask what your name is, tell you theirs, then come back 5 minutes later after you've met 4938 other kids and ask you if you remember their name (which is something simple like Gotanimaderpradeshia). In Africa, I went by Andy a lot because it was easier for the kids to pronounce. They all think it is very funny here that my name is basically the same as Aunty. Common questions include, what is your fathers name, what is your village name (America usually suffices), how old are you, why aren't you married yet, and is Natalie really your sister?

The Women.
Always stunningly gorgeous, draped in bright colours with gold bangles and nose rings and earrings and hair pieces. Always composed, even wrapped in 3 yards of sari fabric, in 90-degree weather, walking barefoot, with 20 pounds of corn balanced on their head, 3 kids running in circles around them, horns sounding everywhere, and motorcycles flying past at 65mph. We are put to shame every time we walk outside.

The Men.
Excell at shameless nose-picking, staring, belching, staring, horking, staring, and having a hand down their pants at any given moment. And staring. I have endured it in a few countries now, but the Indian degree of staring is beyond anything I've ever experienced. You walk by a crowd of 5 grown men and they immediately stop talking, turn around, and just GAPE at you until you are out of sight. You actually start wondering if you forgot to put a shirt on that morning, or if there's a huge hole in your pants. I was so baffled by it yesterday I yelled "HELLOOOOO?" to a group of them and they all started giggling like schoolgirls. It's ridiculous. Wearing a chudidar seems to help a bit, but they still act just as stunned about your choice to actually WALK down the STREET... oh, the scandal.

The overall feel from people here is different than warm South American cultures, or even Africa where they so willingly assume you are superior to them because of skin colour. Here, everyone would still prefer to be white, but they are not as adoring of Western culture, and will not hesitate to give you dirty looks if your knee is showing.