Speaking Hindi, eating vegetarian: What an American mom embraced about life in India and what she didn’t

Moving countries often comes with a quiet pressure to fully blend in or completely hold on to who you were before. Kristen Fischer, an American mother of four living in India, shows that real life usually sits somewhere in between. Through a candid social media post, she shared how living in India has changed her daily habits, what she happily adapted to, and what she chose to keep the same. Her reflections struck a chord because they felt honest, balanced, and deeply human rather than performative.

Kristen Fischer, an American mum of four who has been living in India for several years, recently opened up about how her lifestyle has evolved since moving to the country. She shared the ways she has embraced local habits with curiosity and respect, while also being clear about the parts of her identity she has chosen not to change.

Talking about the changes she has made, Fischer wrote, “I take bucket baths. I use the jet spray. I eat vegetarian. I speak Hindi.” Each of these choices reflects everyday adjustments many foreigners slowly make when living in India. Bucket baths replace long showers due to water consciousness. Jet sprays become a practical norm. Vegetarian food becomes easier to adopt in a country where plant-based meals are widely available. Learning Hindi helps bridge daily interactions and cultural gaps.


At the same time, Fischer was equally open about what she has not changed. She shared, “I drink filtered coffee every morning. My kids do not sleep with me. I eat dinner at 6 pm. I don’t like Indian sweets.” These habits, she explained, are personal choices rooted in comfort, routine, and preference.

Filter coffee remains her daily ritual. Her children sleeping independently reflects her parenting style. Early dinners align with how her family functions best. And not liking Indian sweets is simply a matter of taste, not rejection. By stating this openly, Fischer makes an important point: adapting to a culture does not require erasing personal boundaries.

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She neatly captured this balance by explaining that changing certain habits can be healthy, while holding on to parts of yourself can be just as important. According to her, both choices have value. She went on to expand this thought in her caption, reflecting on cultural adaptation as a life process where growth, maturity, and change matter, but so does staying connected to what you know and who you are.

Kristen Fischer explained that her life in India has been a balance between adaptation and staying true to herself. She didn’t fully assimilate to Indian culture, nor did she hold on to all her old ways, allowing her life to evolve naturally. She believes growth is a personal, ongoing process, with everyone at a different stage. While she loves many aspects of India, she maintains some habits she prefers. For her, adaptation and self-preservation aren’t opposites—they can coexist harmoniously.

Internet reacts

The internet had plenty to say about Kristen Fischer’s lifestyle in India. One user shared that while they enjoy showers in Europe, there’s something satisfying about bucket baths, feeling fully clean only when pouring water from a mug—a habit they grew up with. Another asked if her children also have dinner at 6 and whether they sleep through the night. A third commenter praised her as a happy-hearted global citizen and a shining example for everyone.