Cultural differences

It has been almost 13 years since I am away from India. One thing that strikes me vividly is how westerners treat the gifts. Its absolutely normal to open a gift right in front and at times its expected to do so.. But back home, it is not a norm to open a gift right when its received.

Another interesting norm in the western countries to respect the privacy and not to pry up upon personal details like weather or not married, if so, how many kids and what kind of job and how much do one make etc.. In fact its considered outright rude to ask.

On the contrary back home in India, it is quite normal and OK to ask above questions and its considered rude not to answer these questions.. Cultural difference ....

Products and prices..

Its just over 3 years since i have landed in USA. Life is good and I tried my best not get carried away by the consumerism. But guess what, spent more money in the last 3 years than i had ever spent before. Then came the realization.. That there are intrinsically two things at play when i go shopping. The product and the price. I observed, that i have been buying stuff just because i liked the price and eventually regretted the purchase..

Now, I got my act together.. I will go shopping only if I need something and i go looking for it. Lets say a shirt, and i need to like it very much.. Not just like it, but i should feel that i cannot do without it.. Price is not a consideration (well of-course within a reason based on my affordability) when i find something like that. Then again there are rare circumstances where in I like the price and the product. But not happens always..

Now my satisfaction to spending ratio is much higher..