‘Things Europeans could learn from Indians’: French woman lists 11 things she loved about India, from spirituality and food to colourful fashion

A French fitness instructor has sparked an online conversation after sharing 11 aspects of life in India that she believes Europeans could learn from following her recent trip to the country. Roxane, who teaches yoga and specialises in kalaripayattu, an ancient Indian martial art, said returning to Europe made her realise how deeply some of the habits and experiences she encountered in India had influenced her daily life.

In an Instagram video titled “Things Europeans could learn from Indians”, Roxane reflected on the differences she noticed between the two cultures. She said her experiences in India had changed the way she viewed community, spirituality, food, social interaction and even everyday routines.

“I’m obviously not saying India is perfect or that one culture is better than the other. I just came back to Europe and realised how many little things had become part of my everyday life,” Roxane said.


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Yoga brought Roxane to India

Roxane said her connection with India developed through yoga. After teaching the practice in France and Canada, she travelled to India, where she completed her certification.

She said the experience exposed her to a “very different approach” to yoga from what she had encountered while learning and teaching in the West.

Her observations eventually extended beyond yoga, leading her to reflect on everyday life in India and the habits she felt could offer something different to people in Europe.

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Community and togetherness

The first point Roxane highlighted was the sense of community she experienced in India.

She said Europeans were often accustomed to being highly independent and handling things on their own, which could sometimes leave people feeling isolated. In India, she said, she frequently encountered a stronger sense of togetherness involving relatives, neighbours, friends and even people she barely knew.

“In Europe, we are so used to being independent and doing everything on our own. In India, I often felt like people were just there. Family, neighbours, friends, even people you barely knew,” she said.

Spirituality as part of everyday life

Roxane also spoke about spirituality, saying India offered an environment where people could openly practise it without feeling unusual or judged.

She pointed specifically to bhakti and said she felt that devotional practices were incorporated into everyday life, making spirituality seem like a natural part of daily routines.

More time spent outdoors

Another difference she noticed was how much time people spent outside.

Roxane described scenes of older men sitting on plastic chairs, neighbours chatting and people drinking chai while simply observing what was happening around them.

“Uncles sitting on plastic chairs, neighbours talking, chai in hand, just watching life happen,” she said.

Food as a way of showing care

Food was another major theme in Roxane’s list.

She said one of the most noticeable differences was the importance attached to whether someone had eaten. Instead of simply asking “how are you?”, she said, people often ask, “have you eaten?”

“As someone who loves eating, I felt very understood,” Roxane said.

She also praised the variety of Indian food, mentioning rice, dal, curd, paneer, dosa, vegetables and coconut among the foods she enjoyed.

“So many combinations and flavours. I genuinely had the best digestion of my life in India!” she said.

The value of simply sitting and talking

Roxane said she particularly appreciated the willingness to slow down and spend time simply talking or doing nothing.

She argued that Europeans had, in her view, forgotten how to sit together without feeling the need to make the time productive.

Bringing more colour into everyday fashion

Roxane also turned her attention to clothing and colours.

She said European fashion had gradually become dominated by beige and suggested that people could incorporate more of the bright colours she associated with India.

She pointed to colourful clothing, jewellery, flowers, saris and bangles as examples of the visual variety she noticed during her time in the country.

Smiling at strangers

Another thing that stood out to her was the frequency with which people smiled at her.

Roxane said people sometimes smiled at her without any obvious reason and that, in her experience, those interactions did not feel forced.

Direct communication

She also said she appreciated what she saw as more direct communication in India.

According to Roxane, conversations could be straightforward without requiring what she described as “10 layers of politeness and small talk”.

Chai throughout the day

Tea was another habit she included on her list.

Roxane said chai multiple times a day had become one of the everyday routines she particularly enjoyed during her stay in India.

Her take on bathroom habits

The final point concerned hygiene habits.

Roxane said Europe still relies heavily on toilet paper and argued that people there should consider using water as part of their bathroom routines.

“I said what I said,” she added.

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Social media users agree with Roxane

Her video drew responses from users who said they identified with several of her observations and appreciated the way she presented her experience.

One commenter said they agreed with every point, particularly the discussion around fashion, adding that European fashion could use more colour.

Another user singled out the phrase “just watching life happen”, saying it accurately captured something they associated with India.

A third commenter said the idea of sitting, talking and doing nothing resonated strongly with them. The user said they had also lived in India as an expatriate and described learning that not every moment needed to be productive as one of the biggest changes they experienced.

Another commenter praised Roxane for what they described as a deeper understanding of the Indian lifestyle, while also noting that every country has both strengths and weaknesses.

“There are weaknesses and strengths of every nation. India will be great again,” the user wrote.

Roxane’s post has since prompted a wider discussion about the differences in everyday social habits between India and Europe, with users responding to her observations on community, spirituality, food, fashion, communication and the pace of daily life.