'Do you ride elephants to school’ to ‘how many Gods you have’: Indian woman shares the strangest questions foreigners ask about India

Living abroad comes with its fair share of curiosity and confusion—especially when you’re from India. Sheenam Gautam, now based in Germany, recently revealed on Instagram the amusing and often bizarre questions she encounters as an Indian abroad. From assumptions about wildlife and culture to stereotypes about food, religion, and Bollywood, her experiences read like a daily stand-up comedy routine. With wit and humour, she tackles each misconception, offering playful yet pointed answers that highlight both the curiosity and ignorance foreigners often display about India.

One common question Gautam faces is whether India has WiFi. She jokingly points out that not only does India have WiFi, but sometimes it’s faster than people expect. Similarly, she addresses assumptions about the country’s climate, emphasising its diversity—from scorching plains to cool mountains, deserts, beaches, and rainforests. She also tackles the stereotype that Indians eat curry daily, reminding her audience with a smile that cuisine is far more varied.

Language assumptions come up frequently, too. People often compliment her English, expecting it to be broken or heavily accented. She responds humorously that she learned it in England’s “favorite colony,” highlighting the irony. And of course, Bollywood fame comes into play, with strangers assuming she personally knows stars like Shahrukh Khan—something she answers with a witty nod to her imagination.

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Food, family, and lifestyle questions are never-ending. Many ask if she is a vegetarian for religious reasons or if she lives in a massive joint family. Gautam clarifies, mixing humour and reality: she enjoys paneer because it’s delicious, not religiously mandated, and joint families exist mainly at weddings. Even questions about village life, spicy food, cricket, yoga, and arranged marriages get her signature funny yet factual responses.

Religion and culture provoke curiosity as well. Foreigners often ask about India’s many gods, which she quips are enough to cover every festival and exam season. And when asked about riding camels or elephants, she jokes about grocery-store commutes, poking fun at the over-the-top stereotypes. Through these interactions, Gautam showcases how living abroad as an Indian is filled with amusement, surprises, and plenty of opportunities to educate with humour.