Overview
- Anna Haakenson, a U.S. mother of two, spent about 2.5 months in India and shared a nine-point Instagram comparison of daily life in India and the United States.
- Her list highlighted differences in honking etiquette, spice levels in food, social interactions with strangers, and how trash is disposed of.
- She described Indian roads as “controlled chaos,” contrasted India’s hot and monsoon cycles with U.S. seasons, and noted temples and citywide festivals as highly visible expressions of faith.
- Affordability and family structures featured prominently, with Haakenson saying everyday costs felt lower in India and multi-generational households were more common than in the U.S.
- The post went viral with more than 4.5 million views, drawing agreement as well as pushback that stressed India’s religious diversity, regional climates, and concerns such as pollution.