There is nothing worse than being exposed to two completely different cultures. When I ascended the Air France flight out of New Delhi on that cold August morning in 2000, little had I realised how much would change in the way I viewed the world and vice versa. I had migrated into the Western world without a clue as to how my identity  would get mixed up in the process.

My first brush with it was with my daily vocabulary. There were plenty of new definitions of words and expressions I had used with élan back home. The one that comes to mind immediately is the expression “freak out”.

In Indian English the expression “freak out” meant “have fun” or “party out with friends”. Imagine my surprise when one of my American colleagues said “…and when I realised I didn’t have enough money in my account I totally freaked out, dude!” I took a moment to absorb that.

“Oh OK...” I responded innocently (still high on my desi version) “so that you don't have to pay for the dinner, right?”

“What?” He wondered distastefully. I realised there had been some mistake somewhere and quickly changed the subject. It took me almost a month to realise that “freak out” in the West meant “be afraid of”or “panic”. So much for 15 years of English education, I thought.

A few months later another co-worker announced one day: “I proposed to her last night! And she said YES!” We all applauded and congratulated him.

When the cheering crowd had scattered I leaned over to ask him “So where are you guys going?” He looked surprised and said “What d'ya mean? When?” I continued without a blink “Well…on your date.” He shook his head disapprovingly in confusion and walked away from me before I belted more curved ones. I later realised “proposing” in the West meant “asking for marriage”and not “professing commitment-less love” like my desi version had convinced me.

A few years later I sat in a café with a close friend back home in Bangalore. We were soon joined by another friend of his. He declared proudly “I proposed to her last week man!”

“Congrats! When is the wedding?” I asked him. He looked back at me puzzled this time “Wedding? What? Kidding or what man?” I continued sipping my coffee with a mischievous smile.