A Poland-born woman living in Bengaluru shared how her daily habits and perceptions have shifted after residing in India for 10 months [1].
Her experience highlights the psychological and physical process of cultural adaptation, illustrating how expatriates internalize local norms regarding environment and lifestyle. This transition often manifests in altered sensory perceptions and a shift in what is considered a reasonable standard of living.
Among the most notable changes is her reaction to the weather. While Poland is known for its colder climate, the woman said she now finds a temperature of 24 °C to be cold [1]. This shift suggests a biological and mental acclimation to the warmer tropical climate of southern India.
Dietary preferences have also evolved during her stay. The woman said she now prefers rajma, a popular Indian kidney bean curry, over sandwiches [1]. This preference reflects a broader trend of international residents adopting local cuisines over traditional Western staples.
Urban navigation in Bengaluru, a city known for its significant traffic congestion, has become a routine part of her life. She said that a 45-minute drive to reach a park is now considered normal [1]. In many European cities, such a commute for a local park would be seen as excessive, but the pace of Bengaluru has redefined her expectations.
These observations were shared as a humorous reflection on her time in the city. By documenting these small but significant changes, she illustrates the gradual blending of her Polish roots with her current Indian environment [1].
“She now finds a temperature of 24 °C to be cold.”
This account serves as a case study in cultural assimilation, where an individual's 'baseline' for normality is recalibrated by their environment. The shift in temperature perception and tolerance for urban transit times demonstrates how quickly human adaptability can overwrite previous geographic norms when immersed in a contrasting culture.
