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Tween, preteen, and pre-adolescent are all applicable to the 10–12 age range. Opinions of the transition from ‘kid’ or ‘preteen’ or ‘pre-adolescent’ or ‘tween’ to ‘teenager’ or ‘adolescent’ vary. Some say it is 13 by English language semantics. Some say it is 14 because it is the most common age boys start getting deeper voices. Girls’ fuzzy zone would be 12–13 rather than 13–14 because they start and go through puberty at an earlier age than boys. Kids on Bike RPG and Tales from the Loop RPG label the 8–13 age range as ‘kid’ and 14–19 as ‘teen’. Kid is an ambiguous term, as is often used as a gender-neutral term for ‘son’ or ‘daughter’. But kid is a much easier word than pre-teen or pre-adolescent and sounds better than tween, which probably why the kid-adventure RPGs are using ‘kid’ instead of ‘tween’.My opinion, ‘teenager’ or ‘adolescent’ begins when signs of tanner stage 3 puberty become apparent (for boys, perceived growth spurt and deepening of the voice), or the 13th birthday, whichever is later. This is typically between 13 and 15 for boys and usually before the 14th birthday for girls.Some age progressions from a few different points of viewsAccording to File:Child development stages.svg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Child_development_stages.svg)- (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Child_development_stages.svg) Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Child_development_stages.svg) :FuzzyLow Core FuzzyHigh Category 9-10 10-12.5 12.5-13.5 Preadolescence 8.25-10.75 10.75-13 --- Preteen 9-13 13-14.5 14.5-17.25 Puberty (Girls) 13.5-13.75 13.75-16.25 16.25-17.5 Adolescence 11-14 14-16.25 16.25-18.5 Secondary School 10-14.5 14.5-18.25 18.25-20.25 Puberty (Boys) 16.5-21.5 21.5- --- Adulthood Tanner stages of puberty according to GrowingUpBoys (Stage 3 – Rapid Growth Stage)Stage Min Avg Max Typical Duration 1 Pre-pubescent Child 2 9 11 15 2.5 3 10 13.5 17 1.5 4 12 15 18 2 5 15 17 20 6 Fully physically and mentally mature Adult (not a real stage) Girls average 1.5 years younger for each stageKids on Bikes RPG with pattern extensionAligns well with protestant bible and male-centric physical markers) - 6-year brackets (after an initial two year bracket)0–1 - Infant2–7 - Child8–13 - Kid14–19 - Teen20–25 - Young Adult26+ - AdultTales from the Loop uses the same brackets except there are 2 year overlap zones (8–9 for child & kid, 14–15 for kid & teen). British knighthood tradition uses 7 year brackets (7–13 page, 14–20 squire, 21+ knight)13-year brackets - Fits modern American societal markers well(2 youngest brackets have subdivisions)0.00-12.99 - Infant (0-1.49), Toddler (1.5-3.99), Child (4.0-6.49), Kid (6.5-12.99)13.00-25.99 - Teenage Minor (13.0-18.49), Young Adult (18.5-25.99)26.00-38.99 - Adult39.00-51.99 - Mature Adult / Middle Age52.00-64.99 - Old, government/police/military retirement zone65.00-77.99 - Very Old, Retirement zone, early-mid 20th century life expectancy78.00-90.99 - Modern life expectancy91.00-103.99 - Beyond life expectancy104.0-116.99 - Centarians & Supercentarians117.0-129.99 - World Record ZoneMy opinion(10+ tuned for on-time puberty boys and bible maturity ages)0–1 - Infant2–3 - Toddler4–5 - Young Child6–7 - Child8–9 - Mature Child10–13 - Preteen14–15 - Core Puberty16–19 - ‘Almost Adult’ - Can pass as an adult with maturity & effort20 - 24 - Young Adult - Perceived as an adult unless behaving immature25+ - Adult - Almost always perceived as an adult30+ - Always perceived as an adult even with baby face and completely immature behavior.A big view of teenager is being labelled as a ‘youth’. On the young side, 16–19, able to pass as an adult with maturity and effort. On the older side, 21–24, perceived as an adult unless look young or behaving immature on the old side. The biblical age of adulthood, 20, in the middle, and 25 being when eligible levites can enter the priesthood and most everyone having full physical and mental adult features by 25–26 (full beards, wisdom teeth etc..).16–21 is the core legal fuzzy zone for legal adulthood, ‘youth’. Varying global age of majority, other varying legal age thresholds - sexual consent, marriage, driving license, drinking, smoking, gambling, firearms, voting, etc.. Include the fringe countries and edge cases, drivers license restrictions, laws for referring juveniles to adult criminal court, as well as the boundaries of high school and undergraduate college, the legal fuzzy range would be extended to 14–22. Include lesser societal thresholds (COPA, Bar Mitzvah, adult / non-child ticket prices, Insurance rate decline, graduate college, age-based foster care rules regarding participation in consent, ObamaCare extended dependent care, etc) the range becomes 12–26. Modern-day fuzzy zones are centered on 18 as 18 is the most common age of adulthood in the modern world.In ancient Rome, the core fuzzy ‘youth zone’ is 17–24, with the extended range being 14–29. Military age and de-facto adult age was 17. Kids gained legal adult status between the age of 14–17 (empire; 16–17 in the republic), but when it came to things like choosing between conventional slavery vs death or death-labor-camps, 17, the official military enlistment age, was the the general cut-off age. The age of majority in most major societies tends to be at or near the military enlistment or conscription age. The end of the fuzzy zone in Rome is when youth no longer need adult curator approval to enter into major contracts and commitments. Rome did not respect their youth much - saw them as incapable of meaningful foresightful rational thought, easy pawns for the politicians and other figures to rabble-rouse, patrons of the brothels (places of sexual prostitutes). Full of eagerness and vigor, perfect for the front lines of the legions. Ages 17–20 were just about always on the very front lines of the Roman legions. Modern fuzzy zones are less defined. Some countries have a youth zone legally defined (15–29 for Brazil), but most is just fuzzy logic common law such as youth incentives and tax incentives (NY Youth tax credit 16–24, pro soccer youth incentives 16–22).Lots of age benchmark, labeling, and societal rights research assembled, merged, mashed, and expanded here: Ages and Aging - Secular world, Bible, RPGs.Modern world age benchmarks for ages 12 to 26 below:12Start of adult ticket/admission prices in USA;Minimum normal height is enough to go on any specialized high-thrill amusement park ride (54");Lowest world age of sexual consent (Angola, parts of Mexico);Highest US age of criminal responsibility;Jewish Bat Mitzvah for girls (age of accountability);Youngest worldwide common age for compulsory ID-carry;Participation in some consent (such as adoption) for foster care in Arizona. Also many other age-based foster care rules (Arizona) such as home-alone and sitting in front seat of car.Minimum age for top-tier professional eSports competition outside of USA that don’t honor USA COPA laws.13Age requirement to create accounts on many websites due to COPA;Jewish Bar Mitzvah for boys (age of accountability);Minimum age for professional prize-money competition for Fortnite, DOTA 2, CS:GO, HALO 5 (USA), Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone, SMITE, World of Warcraft, iRacing, and the lower Overwatch Contender’s league. Some Leagues and venues require 18 for DOTA 2 and CS:GO (worse for CS:GO).14Lowest world-wide legal age of marriage (Columbia, Bolivia, Paraguay);Possible for serious violent felony crimes (rape, murder, etc..) to be referred to the full adult justice system in the USA.USA lowest restricted driver's license age (ND, SD);USA lowest driving learner's permit age (11 states);USA lowest minor work permit age;Required to get hunting or fishing license;Lowest common world age of sexual consent;Age where juveniles may be tried as an adult for serious crimes in USA and Israel;Unwritten common law / precedent for the minimum age to be able to train with a professional soccer team normally rostered with fully grown men.Minimum driver age for NASCAR racing All-American series (local)15Physical growth plateaus / slows significantly at an average age of 15.5 for boys.Minimum driver age for formula four racing and NASCAR racing ARCA Menards series (regional; short < 1 mile tracks), NASCAR racing Whelen modified series (regional)Minimum player age for English Premiere League soccer and Italian Serie A soccer.Minimum age for Rocket League professional eSports competition16Lowest world legal both-gender adult age of majority / adulthood (6 countries);In most USA states that offer early emancipation, age of which you can get judicial early emancipation (considered an adult early);Many serious felony crimes are referred to the full adult justice system in USA.USA Special-case Legal age / Permission Marriage;Lowest and most common US unrestricted driver's license age (most 16.5);Highest US driving learner's permit age (9 states);USA minor work permit with less restrictions;Lowest maximum compulsory education age in US;Lowest world-wide minimum age for voluntary military enlistment;Lowest and most common (31 states) age of sexual consent in the US;Lowest world legal drinking (alcohol) age;Lottery age in the UK;Highest world age of criminal responsibility (Argentina, Belgium);Some US states start adult justice system for all criminal offenders;Worldwide most common age for compulsory ID-carry (Others are 10,12-common,14,15,18-common);Transition from Children to Adult IQ tests (Wechsler);Use adult blood pressure chart (hypertension / hypotension);Som lab blood test reference ranges are at adult levels. Overall near-adult.US youth national teams (soccer) change labels from boys to men at U-17;Unwritten common law / precedent for the minimum age to be able to compete / play in a match with a professional soccer team normally rostered with fully grown men (contracts may be signed at 14 or 15, but usually don’t appear in a professional match until after the 16th birthday).Minimum driver age for regional NASCAR series, formula two, formula three, DirtCar racing, Indy Lights racing, and Indy Pro 2000.Minimum player age for German Bundesliga (pro soccer Germany; 16.5) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB)Minimum age for EA Sports (FIFA, Madden, etc..) and Starcraft 2, Crossfire APEX Legends professional eSports competition.17Highest USA restricted driver's license age;Age requirement in USA to get into R-rated movies without accompanying adult;Minimum driver age for NASCAR racing ARCA Menards series (regional; medium and long tracks 1+ mile)Minimum age for League of Legends professional eSports competition.18Legal adult age of majority / age of adulthood in all but 3 US states;Most common world adult age of majority;Most common USA permission-free legal marriage age;Current USA conscription age under USA selective service act;Highest maximum compulsory education age in US;Typical world-wide minimum age for voluntary military enlistment, including USA;Highest age of sexual consent in the US;Highest common world age of sexual consent;Lowest casino gambling age in US (14 states, some casinos in these states require 21);Lottery age requirement in most US states;Casino gambling age in the UK;Age of adult medication dosing;FIFA minimum age for international transfers. FIFA started really enforcing this a few years ago;Minimum driver age for NASCAR racing Cup series and Xfinity series (both national), Formula one racing, Indycar racing, and World of Outlaws / super-sprints.Minimum player age for Major League Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), PGA Tour, Professional Bull Riding (PBR), as well as minor leagues for NHL and NBA.Minimum age for top Overwatch league, Call of Duty, Rainbow Six, PUBG, Magic the Gathering Arena eSports competition.19Minimum player age for National Basketball Association (NBA)20Highest worldwide minimum age for voluntary military enlistment;Age where full adult reference ranges apply for laboratory blood tests begin;Age of census, military service, temple tax, and full-adult vow redemption in the torah (first five books in the Bible / Old Testament);Youth / development national teams remove youth labels at U-21 and U-23 levels;Physical growth for men completes at an average age of 20.5Most Wechsler IQ test subtests (by how much raw score is needed to get the same scaled score ) that are not verbal comprehension index peak or start decline by age 20, peaking in the 16–17, 18-19, or 20–24 age brackets (most 18–19). Some are mostly flat at-or-near peak until 30. VCI subtests peak in the 40s. Why most pro eSports players tend to be 16–22 and nearly all 14–26.21Highest world legal adult age of majority (14 countries + peurto rico);Highest legal adult age of majority in US (Mississippi);Highest common world-wide age of legal marriage (highest for women);USA Drinking (alcohol) age;Casino Gambling age in most US states;Lottery age in 3 US states (AZ, IA, LA);Highest world legal drinking (alcohol) age;USA rental car age without huge surcharges;Original USA youngest conscription age;Most US states end free education for those who have not completed high school (Some are 18, 20, 22, or 25);Highest world age of sexual consent (Bahrain, Tunisia is 20);Highest unrestricted driving age in US;Minimum age in USA (mostly common law / precedent) to be regarded as a supervision-capable adult, at least for under-17 movie theater admission, on-site eSports competition, and for foster careMinimum player age for National Football League (NFL) — Must be out of high school at least 3 years, typically 20–22 usually 21.22Highest world-wide age of legal marriage for men (Algeria, China);Highest world-wide unrestricted driver's license age;Minimum MI6 agent recruitment age (UK);23Minimum FBI special Agent recruitment age (USA);End youth / development labeling and incentives for Pro soccer;2425USA auto insurance rates dramatically decrease;Rental car without any age-related surcharges;Current max conscription age for USA selective service;Minimum CIA agent recruitment age (USA);26End ObamaCare extended dependent coverage;Most professional eSports players retire by this age (MOBA games a little older, Fortnite a little younger)After 26, everything is old-age cut-offs and general decline, exception - Most Verbal Comprehension Indiex (VCI) subtests (crystalized intelligence, school smarts) of Wechsler WAIS-IV, WAIS-III peak in the 40s.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are the military service of the Russian Federation, established after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. On 7 May 1992, Boris Yeltsin signed a presidential decree establishing the Russian Ministry of Defence and placing all Soviet Armed Forces troops on the territory of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic under Russian control.The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is the President of Russia. The Russian Armed Forces were formed in 1992. The Russian Armed Forces is one of the world's largest and most powerfulmilitary forces. It is also the second largest arms exporter in the world.Under Russian federal law, the RuAF along with the Federal Security Service (FSB)'s Border Troops, the National Guard, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), the Federal Protective Service (FSO), the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), and EMERCOM's civil defence form Russia's military services and are under direct control of the Security Council of Russia.The Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Education and the Russian Union of Rectors have approved a new training programme for reserve officers, sergeants, and privates that will be offered in higher educational institutions around the country. At the initiative of the president, who was supported by both the military and the Russian Union of Rectors, all students that can pass a physical exam will be able to go through army training at their universities. They will study in the military departments of universities, in military training centres, and in inter-institutional military training centres. After graduation, depending on the program, the student can be commissioned as a lieutenant, sergeant, or private in the reserves.An exam instead of serviceUp until now, only students studying at universities that had a military department or school of military training were able to go through military training during their studies and be admitted to the reserve force with an officer's military rank.However, these departments and schools are found in only a few institutions of higher education. There are only 72 in the whole country. That's roughly 7 percent of all educational institutions. Russian higher education annually admits about 550,000 young men as freshmen, of whom only 10 percent go on to serve in the military. For the Russian army, whose military units are understaffed by 17.3 percent according to official data, this is a very significant figure. If there is a serious armed conflict or a large-scale war that no one wants or is expecting (but from which no one is ever completely safe), untrained and unskilled young men will have to be sent into battle. In other words, they will be "cannon fodder." No one wants to see this.Future reserves of the armed forces will be trained on a voluntary basis in an area related to their university studies. After the students at the military department or inter-institutional centre have studied the theory, they will go through a three-month boot camp the summer before their senior year, where they will be trained on real military equipment intended for their military specialty, and will have to pass an examination. If they pass this test, they will be given a military rank. Those who do not pass the test will be sent to serve as regular conscripts in the army.“This procedure will allow us to prepare the right number of reserves in the areas most in demand, primarily technical military specialties, while not drafting them into the armed forces,” commented President Vladimir Putin on the new training programme.‘Military day’But how this can be achieved if some cities in Russia and even entire regions the size of France or Germany have only one military department? The solution is that the military will create inter-institutional centres for training that will have ties to nearby universities and institutes. These centres will use the training facilities of military schools or military units that are located in the particular region.Students will have a so-called ‘military day.’ In the morning, they will put on their military uniforms, and take a bus or train to an inter-institutional centre. After training for eight hours, with a break for lunch, they will go back home. A week later they will be on the road again. In this way the students will learn all types of small arms, and wheeled and tracked equipment.This new programme for training future officers and sergeants of the reserve forces at military is likely to commence on September 1, 2014. Branches of inter-institutional military training centres are scheduled exactly a year later in military training centres and on September 1, 2016 at military bases.Pros and ConsIt is easy to see what this reserve training will do for the army. But it is not clear how it will attract students. Although it is true that it would be more appealing to train at a department or in an inter-institutional centre and then go through a three-month boot camp before taking qualification tests and examinations with fellow students than to join the military with strangers.The new programme has another important aspect. When former students with military experience make a career in public service or in a state-owned corporation, no one will be able to accuse them of avoiding military service or prevent them from being promoted.However, there are problems. No one has said anything yet about the fate of these future reserve lieutenants, sergeants, and privates with higher educations. In order to maintain and build upon their knowledge and skills in their military specialties, they should go through at least three-week or month-long training at least once every 18 months. Otherwise, all these expenses (legal, educational, financial, and other) will not be worth a dime. Without a comprehensive system for training and continuing education for the reservists, training students will be only half the battle, if not less.Reserve Officer Training in Soviet Union was established in the 1920s.Many military chairs and departments survived in Soviet universities and academies despite the setback which struck military education in the early 1990s after Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev announced his program of unilateral military force withdrawals and reductions. There are 48 military chairs, and 16 military departments within the Russian Ministry of Education, plus one military department, which has been expanded to a separate institute led by Leonid Khabarov.According to Lt. Col. F. Edward Jones, an American military analyst with the U.S. Army War College who studied Reserve Forces in the Soviet Military, not all men served on active duty with the Red Army.All students, who were enrolled in a reserve officer training program while in school were exempt from conscript service. An undetermined number of them, particularly those in engineering fields, were later called to active duty as reserve officers for periods ranging from two to three years.There was a particular goal in cross-training civil specialists. In the classless society of the Soviet Union every individual was guaranteed a job. In so doing, those individuals that have a job, have a dual function. Truck drivers for example, worked for whatever organization their job is associated with; they could be drivers who shuttle machine parts from their factory in Kiev to outlying areas, but they were also registered with the local civilian transport enterprise (Avtokolonna) who receive requirements from the local Military commissariat (Voenkomat) for a designated number of trucks for mobilization or a particular military exercise. As these drivers are well trained and are driving a truck that they have driven many times before (civilian trucks are identical to the military version – one could do a one-for-one exchange and not suffer any decrement of the mission) the system works out very well. The commanders who are receiving these drivers with their trucks, know exactly how many vehicles they will receive, where they're coming from, their license numbers, and the driver's name. The same is applicable for the rest of the civil specialties, such as medics, mechanics, radio operators, telegraph operators or even jewelers, as well as many others.Christina F. Shelton, the USAF Intelligence employee, noted that contrary to the conventional military educational facilities, whose manpower could be estimated quite precisely, the extent of the Soviet reserve officer corps (those who receive commissions at civilian universities) was unknown.

In a country where per capita annual income is $1,200, fitness club fees tend to run about $100 per month. For context, on a per capita income basis in the US, that would be like paying around $3,500 per month for a gym. Like many things in India, that price can be negotiated, but it's a luxury nonetheless. Once inside, men love to lift weights, while women either stand around talking or walk aggressively on the treadmill . You're hard-pressed to witness a vigorous workout by a woman. Aside from the elite colonial-style country clubs, which are a different beast altogether, Gold's Gym is probably the most exclusive chain brand name in the game. Yup. That's right. Gold's Gym.TEMPLES AND RELIGIOUS PRAYER MEETINGS- ARE HEAVEN ON EARTH.THIS PLACES ARE SPOTLESSLY CLEAN -YOU HAVE TO REMOVE YOUR CHAPPALS /shoes. and follow laws Of land.if you are mensuring women , you may be forbidden .here east meets west south meets north .a street beggar meets a PRIME MINISTER of INDIA AND JAPAN AND TOP FILM STAR AND MR MUKESH AMBANI- TOP WEALTH CREATER In RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS AND INAUGURATIONS.THERE IS NO DIFFERENTIATION OF CASTE CREED BELIEF IN FRONT OF GOD THE ALL POWERFUL.“Yes” Doesn’t Mean Yes and You Rarely Hear “No”When someone says "Yes" to you in India, this does not confer actual agreement. Instead, "Yes" often translates to: "I have heard what you said and I'll consider it." You may also find yourself confused when you discover that few people ever directly say "No." Americans, in general, are an extremely blunt breed. "Yes" tends to mean yes and "No" tends to mean no. Many Indians, in an attempt to keep harmony in a conversation, replace our version of "No" (a.k.a "there's no way in hell") with "Yes, I see" or "I will consider it."The life of the average white collar worker in India is a lot different. Personal and professional lines are blurred. First, when you interview for a position, you are asked about your marital status and family history--a strict no-no here in the US. Once you're in, you'll find that the entire staff eats lunch together everyday. Managers closely monitor hourly activity, interpersonal interactions, and the personal lives of employees. There are even 'Office Moms' responsible for staff health and well-being.It’s OK to Police Other People’s ChildrenYou will see adults disciplining other people's children in public when the situation merits it. On more than one occasion, what appeared to be total strangers spanking and, in some limited cases, actually slapping poorly-behaved children. It's an "it takes a village" mentality. You would never see that happening Stateside though you arguably should.You Can Get Anything Delivered. All the Time. For FreeIt's 2am and you need three large bottles of beer, some Hot Wheels cars, a single Solo cup, a kilo of spicy cashews, and a beach ball? No problem. Call your corner store. It'll be there in 10 minutes. No charge.It Can Take 2-3 Hours to Drive 3-4 MilesIt's a really bad idea to book more than two or three meetings in a day. People tend to meet you with the understanding that it will lead to drinks or eats. Business is social. Further, the snarling, bumper-to-bumper traffic will pretty much guarantee that a day loaded with brief meet-and-greets is a logistical impossibility. A very short drive can easily swallow up an hour (or several) of your time. Because many professionals have drivers, the upside is that you can use that commuting time to read the newspaper, snooze, and catch up on phone calls. Cars function as second offices.No One Is On-Time For Anything. Ever.An acquaintance invites you over to his house for dinner at 9pm. You arrive fashionably late at 9:30pm. Sorry, you will likely be there an hour before anyone else. Don't take it personally. Even business partners may unapologetically show up to meetings well after your coffee has turned cold. Perhaps the aforementioned traffic can account for the trend in tardiness; however, it is more likely that punctuality is simply not valued in India the same way it is in the States.Luxury Hotels Are Safe Havens for the Weary WesternerIf you're a Westerner who is having a panic attack from the chaos of the streets, simply wander into your nearby luxury hotel. You'll be greeted in a welcoming manner, offered a fresh beverage, and, if you ask for it, given access to facilities so that you may freshen up a bit. You'd think hotel managers would know that everyone is doing this all the time, but they don't seem to mind at all. We dare you to try that one in the US.Shopping Is a Team Sportshop in India, the first thing you receive is a greeting and some chai (tea). A small army of shopping clerks will then assist you as you shop. Even when you're shopping for groceries, expect to be trailed by an employee who enthusiastically pulls items as quickly as you can point to them on the shelves. If you are a returning customer, don't be surprised when they begin bagging your regularly-purchased items before you can utter a word. Carry your bags home from the store? No need. Simply schedule a time for free delivery. When you return to the States, you'll be so spoiled you'll wonder how you ever managed to shop on your own.PDAs Have Different RulesMale friends hold hands with each other in public. But when men and women hold hands publicly, it's provocative. Public displays of affection between couples can elicit smirks, clucks, and other negative responses. Tread with caution.People Pay to Whiten...Their SkinAccording to the WSJ, the skin whitening industry is a $20 billion industry across Asia and India. Whitening products are as common and heavily marketed there as diet products are here. The whole thing is quite weird in contrast to tanning-crazed Americans who go to great lengths to achieve a golden-brown glow. Hard to tell which group is more bizarre.The Laws of Standing-in-Line Are Not RespectedWhen standing in a line, people will get right up next to you--so close you're actually touching . As soon as you can turn around and say "Hey, where's the fire?", you'll realize that some enterprising soul just cut in front of you. Cutting in line is commonplace. Americans—who generally like their lines neat and orderly (and with an arms-length space between individuals)—may surge with rage at this lack of civic sensibility. If you insist on standing your literal (and moral) ground, you won't get anywhere. Push if necessary.There's Less Sensitivity Around Weight IssuesWhen greeting someone after a long time apart, it's not uncommon to hear him or her say "My! You've really gained!" Terms of endearment that translate to "chubby" are commonplace and well-intentioned. There's considerably less fascination with skinniness in India and less stigma associated with excess pounds, which is refreshing.Monsoon Means Forest Gump-Style RainBig rain, fat rain, rain coming down sideways, rain that comes from the ground up. Monsoon, the magical phenomenon that breaks weeks of relentless heat, is a true spectacle and miracle. Everyone slows it down big time when the rains start. There's nothing like it here in the States.Getting a Cell Phone Is Ridiculously ToughIt may take 10 days to procure cell phones thanks to onerous security measures on foreigners. Queues at wireless stores can last for hours, few employees speak English, and you need an absurd amount of documentation to set up the most basic plan. A member of the Mumbai police actually can came to your residence to confirm your address on the phone.Gym Memberships Are Status SymbolsIn a country where per capita annual income is $1,200, fitness club fees tend to run about $100 per month. For context, on a per capita income basis in the US, that would be like paying around $3,500 per month for a gym. Like many things in India, that price can be negotiated, but it's a luxury nonetheless. Once inside, men love to lift weights, while women either stand around talking or walk aggressively on the treadmill (See #28: Powerwalking). You're hard-pressed to witness a vigorous workout by a woman. Aside from the elite colonial-style country clubs, which are a different beast altogether, Gold's Gym is probably the most exclusive chain brand name in the game. Yup. That's right. Gold's Gym.“Yes” Doesn’t Mean Yes and You Rarely Hear “No”A vendor accepts money from a customer at his vegetable stall at a wholesale fruit and vegetable market in Mumbai, April 14, 2013. REUTERS/Vivek PrakashWhen someone says "Yes" to you in India, this does not confer actual agreement. Instead, "Yes" often translates to: "I have heard what you said and I'll consider it." You may also find yourself confused when you discover that few people ever directly say "No." Americans, in general, are an extremely blunt breed. "Yes" tends to mean yes and "No" tends to mean no. Many Indians, in an attempt to keep harmony in a conversation, replace our version of "No" (a.k.a "there's no way in hell") with "Yes, I see" or "I will consider it."Offices Are Like FamiliesThe life of the average white collar worker in India is a lot different. Personal and professional lines are blurred. First, when you interview for a position, you are asked about your marital status and family history--a strict no-no here in the US. Once you're in, you'll find that the entire staff eats lunch together everyday. Managers closely monitor hourly activity, interpersonal interactions, and the personal lives of employees. There are even 'Office Moms' responsible for staff health and well-being.It’s OK to Police Other People’s ChildrenJYou will see adults disciplining other people's children in public when the situation merits it. On more than one occasion, you will witness what appeared to be total strangers spanking and, in some limited cases, actually slapping poorly-behaved children. It's an "it takes a village" mentality. You would never see that happening Stateside though in americaGym Memberships Are Status Symbols“Yes” Doesn’t Mean Yes and You Rarely Hear “No”A vendor accepts money from a customer at his vegetable stall at a wholesale fruit and vegetable market in Mumbai, April 14, 2013. REUTERS/Vivek PrakashWhen someone says "Yes" to you in India, this does not confer actual agreement. Instead, "Yes" often translates to: "I have heard what you said and I'll consider it." You may also find yourself confused when you discover that few people ever directly say "No." Americans, in general, are an extremely blunt breed. "Yes" tends to mean yes and "No" tends to mean no. Many Indians, in an attempt to keep harmony in a conversation, replace our version of "No" (a.k.a "there's no way in hell") with "Yes, I see" or "I will consider it."Offices Are Like FamiliesThe life of the average white collar worker in India is a lot different. Personal and professional lines are blurred. First, when you interview for a position, you are asked about your marital status and family history--a strict no-no here in the US. Once you're in, you'll find that the entire staff eats lunch together everyday. Managers closely monitor hourly activity, interpersonal interactions, and the personal lives of employees. There are even 'Office Moms' responsible for staff health and well-being.It’s OK to Police Other People’s ChildrenYou will see adults disciplining other people's children in public when the situation merits it. On more than one occasion, YOU WILL witness what appeared to be total strangers spanking and, in some limited cases, actually slapping poorly-behaved children. It's an "it takes a village" mentality. You would never see that happening Stateside though you arguably should.You Can Get Anything Delivered. All the Time. For Free.A man jumps over a water stream on a beach along the Arabian Sea in Mumbai,It's 2am and you need three large bottles of beer, some Hot Wheels cars, a single Solo cup, a kilo of spicy cashews, and a beach ball? No problem. Call your corner store. It'll be there in 10 minutes. No charge.It Can Take 2-3 Hours to Drive 3-4 MilesIt's a really bad idea to book more than two or three meetings in a day. People tend to meet you with the understanding that it will lead to drinks or eats. Business is social. Further, the snarling, bumper-to-bumper traffic will pretty much guarantee that a day loaded with brief meet-and-greets is a logistical impossibility. A very short drive can easily swallow up an hour (or several) of your time. Because many professionals have drivers, the upside is that you can use that commuting time to read the newspaper, snooze, and catch up on phone calls. Cars function as second offices.No One Is On-Time For Anything. Ever.An acquaintance invites you over to his house for dinner at 9pm. You arrive fashionably late at 9:30pm. Sorry, you will likely be there an hour before anyone else. Don't take it personally. Even business partners may unapologetically show up to meetings well after your coffee has turned cold. Perhaps the aforementioned traffic can account for the trend in tardiness; however, it is more likely that punctuality is simply not valued in India the same way it is in the States.Luxury Hotels Are Safe Havens for the Weary WesternerIf you're a Westerner who is having a panic attack from the chaos of the streets, simply wander into your nearby luxury hotel. You'll be greeted in a welcoming manner, offered a fresh beverage, and, if you ask for it, given access to facilities so that you may freshen up a bit. You'd think hotel managers would know that everyone is doing this all the time, but they don't seem to mind at all. We dare you to try that one in the US.Shopping Is a Team SportWhen you walk into a nice shop in India, the first thing you receive is a greeting and some chai (tea). A small army of shopping clerks will then assist you as you shop. Even when you're shopping for groceries, expect to be trailed by an employee who enthusiastically pulls items as quickly as you can point to them on the shelves. If you are a returning customer, don't be surprised when they begin bagging your regularly-purchased items before you can utter a word. Carry your bags home from the store? No need. Simply schedule a time for free delivery. When you return to the States, you'll be so spoiled you'll wonder how you ever managed to shop on your own.PDAs Have Different RulesMale friends hold hands with each other in public. But when men and women hold hands publicly, it's provocative. Public displays of affection between couples can elicit smirks, clucks, and other negative responses. Tread with caution.People Pay to Whiten...Their SkinAccording to the WSJ, the skin whitening industry is a $20 billion industry across Asia and India. Whitening products are as common and heavily marketed there as diet products are here. The whole thing is quite weird in contrast to tanning-crazed Americans who go to great lengths to achieve a golden-brown glow. Hard to tell which group is more bizarre.The Laws of Standing-in-Line Are Not RespectedWhen standing in a line, people will get right up next to you--so close you're actually touching (See #23: No-Fly Zone). As soon as you can turn around and say "Hey, where's the fire?", you'll realize that some enterprising soul just cut in front of you. Cutting in line is commonplace. Americans—who generally like their lines neat and orderly (and with an arms-length space between individuals)—may surge with rage at this lack of civic sensibility. If you insist on standing your literal (and moral) ground, you won't get anywhere. Push if necessary.There's Less Sensitivity Around Weight IssuesWhen greeting someone after a long time apart, it's not uncommon to hear him or her say "My! You've really gained!" Terms of endearment that translate to "chubby" are commonplace and well-intentioned. There's considerably less fascination with skinniness in India and less stigma associated with excess pounds, which is refreshing.Monsoon Means Forest Gump-Style RainBig rain, fat rain, rain coming down sideways, rain that comes from the ground up. Monsoon, the magical phenomenon that breaks weeks of relentless heat, is a true spectacle and miracle. Everyone slows it down big time when the rains start. There's nothing like it here in the States.Getting a Cell Phone Is Ridiculously ToughIt took us 10 days to procure cell phones thanks to onerous security measures on foreigners. Queues at wireless stores can last for hours, few employees speak English, and you need an absurd amount of documentation to set up the most basic plan. A member of the Mumbai police actually came to our residence to confirm our address on the phone application.The 'Rules Of The Road' Are Non-ExistantCar travel is quite an experience. There are relatively few street signals and road signs once you get off the main drags. Even if there were more signage, it wouldn't matter. Traffic laws are more like traffic guidelines. When queues to get too long to get on a ramp for a bridge, for example, people just might inexplicably start driving up the exit ramps and down the wrong side of the road.Being A Pedestrian Can Be ToughDriving is pretty terrifying, but walking places is worse. Because most roads have lots of vehicle traffic and are not really governed by stop lights, the best way to cross the street is to wander into traffic in your best Heisman-trophy pose and to hand-guard cars that are going 5-10 mph. They probably won't hit you very hard, just a love tap really. Real-life Frogger.Hired Help Is Absurdly CheapHaving live-in labor such as house cleaners, drivers, security personal, nannies, and cooks is fairly common in the upper middle class and above. The hourly cost of someone's time is very low and therefore keeping him/her around full-time is a relatively minor expense for well-to-do families. In many cases, multiple generations of staff and their offspring stay with a family for decades.People Aren’t So Casual about ClothingIndians--across all classes--generally take considerable pride in their personal appearance. Men, for the most part, are well-groomed in slacks and tucked-in button downs. In spite of the heat, adults never wear shorts in public unless they're exercising. Women are ornately dressed most of the time.You Accidentally Offend People All the TimeMost standards with body language and manners are so different that you're bound to offend people just by being yourself. For example, pointing directly at objects or people is quite rude (admittedly, Americans aren't supposed to do that, either). Crossing your legs in someone's general direction and showing him the bottoms of your feet is extremely offensive. Similarly, doing anything with your left hand, i.e. drinking, eating, touching people, is considered dirty.Having Seconds is a MustWhen visiting someone's house, appetizers will come hot and heavy. Just when you think you're ready to enter your food coma, you'll be called to the table for the actual meal. Understand that it is your social obligation to eat at least two servings of food followed by dessert. This is Indian hospitality at its finest. Just pace yourself from the start and make each portion small. You won't be complaining a bit if you do it right. The food is out-of-this-world delicious.The Wealth Inequality Is OverwhelmingA billionaire's compound may be outfitted with all the latest luxuries, but you'll find the poorest of the poor, starving, unsheltered, and often seriously diseased camped out in front of the mansion's gate. This is one of India's biggest sources of criticism and confusion. In some senses, vast inequality is rooted into a culture and religion that is thousands of years old (Research Hinduism). On a more human level, however, the scale and intensity of the poverty is simply staggering, especially when juxtaposed against the extreme wealth that sits right next to it.You Have No ‘No-Fly Zone’ (Personal Bubble)Relative to the rest of the world, Americans maintain large spatial zones around themselves to keep strangers at a distance. Indians do not require such zones. It's a nation of close-talkers who have no issue getting up close and personal. They're neither being rude nor being aggressive.There are Separate Public Spaces for Men and WomenIf you're a man and you try to enter the "Women Only" train cars in Mumbai or Delhi, you will get beaten down with a cane and then get thrown off the train. These cars and other projects and facilities like them are a direct response to the high rates of sexual harassment (known as "eve teasing") and to gender-based violence against women in India.Your Last Name Is Your Business CardGetting an apartment in India as an American was incredibly difficult (Indians generally like Americans, but are a bit distrustful of all Westerners). you pretend to be engaged in order to seem like a more stable and attractive couple, but ultimately your saving grace was that my last name was a "very good name" according to the Punjabi owners of the flat we rented. Classist and racist undertones aside, a person's last name denotes a great deal about him-including the region of his ancestors, often his place in society, and more. Your name is your business card and you carry it with you always.Vegetarians Don’t Miss OutUnlike in the US, the vegetarian fare in India is spectacular. Most strict Hindus are 100% veg. For various reasons, including the fact that we walked by several slaughterhouses on our way to the gym everyday, we avoided eating meat whenever possible. When we returned home, we quickly returned to our carnivorous ways.Athletes Aren’t Idolized (Cricketers Aside)REUTERS/Krishnendu HalderComing from an 'athletes first' culture like the US, it's interesting to note that feats of athleticism in India are not as prized or bragged about as, say, a child's performance on a math exam. With the exception of cricket (where Indians tend to unleash their inner sports fanatic), Indians definitely do not value athletic performance quite like we do.Wealthy Indians Love to Power WalkYoung and old, male and female—middle and upper class Indians love to throw on their sneakers under their traditional garb and go for a nice, long power walk. This usually happens at dawn and dusk when the heat is low and the people-watching opportunities are high. It is really cute to see entire families going for their nightly power walks together. Prancersize has yet to catch on.Sensory Overload is the NormAt all times, your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and skin are being bombarded with stimulation. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Rarely is one extreme dominating all five senses simultaneously. Most often, one part of your brain is being offended, while another part is being rewarded (e.g. these taxis are honking so loudly that you can't hear yourself think, but oh man does this X taste incredibly delicious).Google Maps Will Fail YouThere are neither widespread street sign systems nor functional address systems in place. The same road can go by 20 different names depending on who you ask. In order to navigate, you must have substantial knowledge of large, local landmarks. For example, if you're in a cab, it is critical to know your destination's proximity to a sky-scraper, hotel, famous landmark, bridge, or mall. You will get lost. Fortunately, showing up extremely late is no big deal.It's 2am and you need three large bottles of beer, some Hot Wheels cars, a single Solo cup, a kilo of spicy cashews, and a beach ball? No problem. Call your corner store. It'll be there in 10 minutes. No charge.It Can Take 2-3 Hours to Drive 3-4 MilesIt's a really bad idea to book more than two or three meetings in a day. People tend to meet you with the understanding that it will lead to drinks or eats. Business is social. Further, the snarling, bumper-to-bumper traffic will pretty much guarantee that a day loaded with brief meet-and-greets is a logistical impossibility. A very short drive can easily swallow up an hour (or several) of your time. Because many professionals have drivers, the upside is that you can use that commuting time to read the newspaper, snooze, and catch up on phone calls. Cars function as second offices.No One Is On-Time For Anything. Ever.An acquaintance invites you over to his house for dinner at 9pm. You arrive fashionably late at 9:30pm. Sorry, you will likely be there an hour before anyone else. Don't take it personally. Even business partners may unapologetically show up to meetings well after your coffee has turned cold. Perhaps the aforementioned traffic can account for the trend in tardiness; however, it is more likely that punctuality is simply not valued in India the same way it is in the States.Luxury Hotels Are Safe Havens for the Weary WesternerIf you're a Westerner who is having a panic attack from the chaos of the streets, simply wander into your nearby luxury hotel. You'll be greeted in a welcoming manner, offered a fresh beverage, and, if you ask for it, given access to facilities so that you may freshen up a bit. You'd think hotel managers would know that everyone is doing this all the time, but they don't seem to mind at all. We dare you to try that one in the US.Shopping Is a Team SportWhen you walk into a nice shop in India, the first thing you receive is a greeting and some chai (tea). A small army of shopping clerks will then assist you as you shop. Even when you're shopping for groceries, expect to be trailed by an employee who enthusiastically pulls items as quickly as you can point to them on the shelves. If you are a returning customer, don't be surprised when they begin bagging your regularly-purchased items before you can utter a word. Carry your bags home from the store? No need. Simply schedule a time for free delivery. When you return to the States, you'll be so spoiled you'll wonder how you ever managed to shop on your own.PDAs Have Different RulesMale friends hold hands with each other in public. But when men and women hold hands publicly, it's provocative. Public displays of affection between couples can elicit smirks, clucks, and other negative responses. Tread with caution.People Pay to Whiten...Their SkinAccording to the WSJ, the skin whitening industry is a $20 billion industry across Asia and India. Whitening products are as common and heavily marketed there as diet products are here. The whole thing is quite weird in contrast to tanning-crazed Americans who go to great lengths to achieve a golden-brown glow. Hard to tell which group is more bizarre.The Laws of Standing-in-Line Are Not RespectedWhen standing in a line, people will get right up next to you--so close you're actually touching . As soon as you can turn around and say "Hey, where's the fire?", you'll realize that some enterprising soul just cut in front of you. Cutting in line is commonplace. Americans—who generally like their lines neat and orderly (and with an arms-length space between individuals)—may surge with rage at this lack of civic sensibility. If you insist on standing your literal (and moral) ground, you won't get anywhere. Push if necessary.There's Less Sensitivity Around Weight IssuesWhen greeting someone after a long time apart, it's not uncommon to hear him or her say "My! You've really gained!" Terms of endearment that translate to "chubby" are commonplace and well-intentioned. There's considerably less fascination with skinniness in India and less stigma associated with excess pounds, which is refreshing.Monsoon Means Forest Gump-Style RainBig rain, fat rain, rain coming down sideways, rain that comes from the ground up. Monsoon, the magical phenomenon that breaks weeks of relentless heat, is a true spectacle and miracle. Everyone slows it down big time when the rains start. There's nothing like it here in the States.Getting a Cell Phone Is Ridiculously ToughIt takes 10 days to procure cell phones thanks to onerous security measures on foreigners. Queues at wireless stores can last for hours, few employees speak English, and you need an absurd amount of documentation to set up the most basic plan. A member of the Mumbai police actually may come to your residence to confirm our address on the phone application.The 'Rules Of The Road' Are Non-ExistantCar travel is quite an experience. There are relatively few street signals and road signs once you get off the main drags. Even if there were more signage, it wouldn't matter. Traffic laws are more like traffic guidelines. When queues to get too long to get on a ramp for a bridge, for example, people just might inexplicably start driving up the exit ramps and down the wrong side of the road.Being A Pedestrian Can Be ToughDriving is pretty terrifying, but walking places is worse. Because most roads have lots of vehicle traffic and are not really governed by stop lights, the best way to cross the street is to wander into traffic in your best Heisman-trophy pose and to hand-guard cars that are going 5-10 mph. They probably won't hit you very hard, just a love tap really. Real-life Frogger.Hired Help Is Absurdly CheapHaving live-in labor such as house cleaners, drivers, security personal, nannies, and cooks is fairly common in the upper middle class and above. The hourly cost of someone's time is very low and therefore keeping him/her around full-time is a relatively minor expense for well-to-do families. In many cases, multiple generations of staff and their offspring stay with a family for decades.People Aren’t So Casual about ClothingIndians--across all classes--generally take considerable pride in their personal appearance. Men, for the most part, are well-groomed in slacks and tucked-in button downs. In spite of the heat, adults never wear shorts in public unless they're exercising. Women are ornately dressed most of the time.You Accidentally Offend People All the TimeMost standards with body language and manners are so different that you're bound to offend people just by being yourself. For example, pointing directly at objects or people is quite rude (admittedly, Americans aren't supposed to do that, either). Crossing your legs in someone's general direction and showing him the bottoms of your feet is extremely offensive. Similarly, doing anything with your left hand, i.e. drinking, eating, touching people, is considered dirty.Having Seconds is a MustWhen visiting someone's house, appetizers will come hot and heavy. Just when you think you're ready to enter your food coma, you'll be called to the table for the actual meal. Understand that it is your social obligation to eat at least two servings of food followed by dessert. This is Indian hospitality at its finest. Just pace yourself from the start and make each portion small. You won't be complaining a bit if you do it right. The food is out-of-this-world delicious.The Wealth Inequality Is OverwhelmingA billionaire's compound may be outfitted with all the latest luxuries, but you'll find the poorest of the poor, starving, unsheltered, and often seriously diseased camped out in front of the mansion's gate. This is one of India's biggest sources of criticism and confusion. In some senses, vast inequality is rooted into a culture and religion that is thousands of years old (Research Hinduism). On a more human level, however, the scale and intensity of the poverty is simply staggering, especially when juxtaposed against the extreme wealth that sits right next to it.You Have No ‘No-Fly Zone’ (Personal Bubble)Relative to the rest of the world, Americans maintain large spatial zones around themselves to keep strangers at a distance. Indians do not require such zones. It's a nation of close-talkers who have no issue getting up close and personal. They're neither being rude nor being aggressive.There are Separate Public Spaces for Men and WomenIf you're a man and you try to enter the "Women Only" train cars in Mumbai or Delhi, you will get beaten down with a cane and then get thrown off the train. These cars and other projects and facilities like them are a direct response to the high rates of sexual harassment (known as "eve teasing") and to gender-based violence against women in India.Your Last Name Is Your Business CardGetting an apartment in India as an American is incredibly difficult (Indians generally like Americans, but are a bit distrustful of all Westerners). you pretend to be engaged in order to seem like a more stable and attractive couple, but ultimately saving grace is that last name was a "very good name" according to the Punjabi owners of the flat you rent. Classist and racist undertones aside, a person's last name denotes a great deal about him-including the region of his ancestors, often his place in society, and more. Your name is your business card and you carry it with you always.Vegetarians Don’t Miss OutUnlike in the US, the vegetarian fare in India is spectacular. Most strict Hindus are 100% veg. For various reasons, including the fact that if you walke by several slaughterhouses on your way to the gym everyday, you avoid eating meat whenever possible. When ou returned home, you can returned to your carnivorous ways.Athletes Aren’t Idolized (Cricketers Aside)Coming from an 'athletes first' culture like the US, it's interesting to note that feats of athleticism in India are not as prized or bragged about as, say, a child's performance on a math exam. With the exception of cricket (where Indians tend to unleash their inner sports fanatic), Indians definitely do not value athletic performance quite like americans do.Wealthy Indians Love to Power WalkYoung and old, male and female—middle and upper class Indians love to throw on their sneakers under their traditional garb and go for a nice, long power walk. This usually happens at dawn and dusk when the heat is low and the people-watching opportunities are high. It is really cute to see entire families going for their nightly power walks together. Prancersize has yet to catch on.Sensory Overload is the NormBombay at nightAt all times, your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and skin are being bombarded with stimulation. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Rarely is one extreme dominating all five senses simultaneously. Most often, one part of your brain is being offended, while another part is being rewarded (e.g. these taxis are honking so loudly that you can't hear yourself think, but oh man does this X taste incredibly delicious).Google Maps Will Fail YouThere are neither widespread street sign systems nor functional address systems in place. The same road can go by 20 different names depending on who you ask. In order to navigate, you must have substantial knowledge of large, local landmarks. For example, if you're in a cab, it is critical to know your destination's proximity to a sky-scraper, hotel, famous landmark, bridge, or mall. You will get lost. Fortunately, showing up extremely late is no big deal.