Indian after 11 years in Minsk: Belarusians avoid food talk and fear questions

Karan Parakh, an Indian national living in Minsk for over a decade, admits he still cannot get used to certain behavioral traits of Belarusians. According to him, locals rarely discuss the dishes they came to a restaurant for, are constantly in a hurry, and avoid direct questions.

During his 11 years in Belarus, Parakh learned Russian, crediting actor Dmitry Nagiyev as his main teacher. He also opened a cultural center, started a family, and generally feels at home here. However, several local habits remain a puzzle to him.

"Sometimes it seems Belarusians believe happiness must be earned," Parakh notes, stressing he says this without judgment, rather with genuine surprise. He shared his observations as part of the special project "What a Place You've Ended Up In!", produced in partnership with Betera.

The Indian is particularly puzzled by the attitude toward food: after dinner, Belarusians barely mention what they ate, even though the dishes were the very reason they came to the venue. He is also surprised by the habit of rushing everywhere, even during meals, and by the reluctance to ask questions.