Anastasia Sharova, a Russian woman who has made India her home, is winning hearts online with her thoughtful take on life in the country. In a recent Instagram post, she shared the things she’s come to understand after years of living here — and her observations are spot-on. From India’s wild diversity to the warmth of everyday gestures, her post captures the country’s quirks and charm most endearingly.
Anastasia began by pointing out how uniquely Indian addresses can be — where “a house next to the school behind the shop in front of a football ground” somehow makes perfect sense to everyone. She went on to say how she learned that when people ask, “Khana khaya?” it’s rarely about food, but more about care. For her, it was one of the sweetest cultural nuances she discovered.
She also spoke about India’s incredible diversity, calling it “many countries in one.” Comparing states like Uttarakhand and Kerala, Nagaland and Karnataka, she said the differences are so vast that the idea of a “typical Indian” doesn’t quite exist. What truly amazed her, though, was how religion and community blend harmoniously in everyday life. She noticed how people across faiths open their homes for each other’s festivals and traditions, something she says she hasn’t seen anywhere else in the world.
That sense of togetherness, she added, comes with another delightful bonus — there’s a festival to celebrate almost every other week. Food, too, remains a constant surprise for her. With every region offering new flavours and Indians being “geniuses at inventing new dishes,” she joked that you can never run out of things to eat here.
Anastasia also touched upon the everyday realities of life in India — like how patience and a smile often work better than anger on the road. She spoke about jugaad, the Indian way of solving problems creatively, calling it a “baseline” part of life, though she admitted it’s not always a good thing. What touched people most, however, was her observation about neighbourhood culture — how neighbours genuinely look out for one another, a kind of community care she finds rare elsewhere.
To wrap up her post, Anastasia shared that although she settled in India four years ago, she’s been exploring the country for more than 15 years. That’s why, she clarified, her reflections don’t come from a beginner’s lens — but from someone who’s fallen in love with the rhythm, contradictions, and heart of India.
Internet reacts
Many people flooded her post with appreciation and amusement. One person thanked Anastasia for highlighting the beautiful side of India, saying her kind words reflected her own goodness. Another pointed out how a lifetime wouldn’t be enough to explore the endless variety of food across the country. Someone else shared how refreshing it was to see India through her eyes, praising her for noticing the little things and embracing them with positivity. A user even joked that their village address is simply “White House.”
Anastasia began by pointing out how uniquely Indian addresses can be — where “a house next to the school behind the shop in front of a football ground” somehow makes perfect sense to everyone. She went on to say how she learned that when people ask, “Khana khaya?” it’s rarely about food, but more about care. For her, it was one of the sweetest cultural nuances she discovered.
She also spoke about India’s incredible diversity, calling it “many countries in one.” Comparing states like Uttarakhand and Kerala, Nagaland and Karnataka, she said the differences are so vast that the idea of a “typical Indian” doesn’t quite exist. What truly amazed her, though, was how religion and community blend harmoniously in everyday life. She noticed how people across faiths open their homes for each other’s festivals and traditions, something she says she hasn’t seen anywhere else in the world.
That sense of togetherness, she added, comes with another delightful bonus — there’s a festival to celebrate almost every other week. Food, too, remains a constant surprise for her. With every region offering new flavours and Indians being “geniuses at inventing new dishes,” she joked that you can never run out of things to eat here.
Anastasia also touched upon the everyday realities of life in India — like how patience and a smile often work better than anger on the road. She spoke about jugaad, the Indian way of solving problems creatively, calling it a “baseline” part of life, though she admitted it’s not always a good thing. What touched people most, however, was her observation about neighbourhood culture — how neighbours genuinely look out for one another, a kind of community care she finds rare elsewhere.
To wrap up her post, Anastasia shared that although she settled in India four years ago, she’s been exploring the country for more than 15 years. That’s why, she clarified, her reflections don’t come from a beginner’s lens — but from someone who’s fallen in love with the rhythm, contradictions, and heart of India.
Internet reacts
Many people flooded her post with appreciation and amusement. One person thanked Anastasia for highlighting the beautiful side of India, saying her kind words reflected her own goodness. Another pointed out how a lifetime wouldn’t be enough to explore the endless variety of food across the country. Someone else shared how refreshing it was to see India through her eyes, praising her for noticing the little things and embracing them with positivity. A user even joked that their village address is simply “White House.”
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