What to do when I am the only non-indian in the team and the team and the client are starting to talk in Hindi?

likefunny
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Offer to do a team dinner at an Indian restaurant

likefunnyupliftingsmart

Lots of Indians don’t speak Hindi... I’m Indian and feel just as excluded from those conversations

likefunnyupliftingsmart

Same 😂

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Learn Hindi?

likefunny

Sa3, I agree 100% with your approach

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Hindi speaking Indian here. Speaking Hindi around a non Hindi speaker (or any language around other non language speakers) in a professional setting is not OK. Tell a person in that group with whom you have a good rapport with that you feel excluded and would like to listen into the conversations as well

likehelpful

Umm. I’m a Hindi speaking Indian and this is stretching it. That bunch can talk all they want in Hindi when they are amongst themselves but definitely not when a non-Hindi speaker is around. Having spent some time in Europe and how quickly the Germans switched to English when I was around even when it was tough for them is the way professionals should behave. Just confront them and say you’d like to be included into the convo too. And maybe show some curiosity in the language and you’ll be more welcomed into the group. ✌️

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That is currently me with my team. Actually did what BCG1 said. They ordered practically one of everything on the menu but most were vegetarian so I got to eat all the good stuff. It was awesome. They mostly argued about astrology, Pakistan/Indian political tension, and about their kids not caring enough about school...all while I stuffed my face with food and they asked me funny white people questions. It was a good time

likefunnyuplifting

That’s vastly different than not being able to understand what they’re talking about... don’t think this is the work culture OP is in

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Funny how both KPMG throws they are feeling excluded from white culture. 😂 I am not white by the way. At least I can understand they are talking about NCAA and NFL.

likefunny

Indian here. It’s considered pretty rude in most of the Indian community to talk in a language that’s not understood by someone in your group (Tamil with a Hindi only speaker, Hindi with a Telugu only speaker) but it happens sometimes nevertheless. People get comfortable and a common language is a pretty solid common ground.

In such situations just a quick but polite “I’m sorry I didn’t understand that” will bring everyone back to realization that they’re being rude.

Don’t feel shy about it, you’re not the one in the wrong.

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I love this. I want to be part of this team.

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K1 with the win. It is the exact same when people discuss NCAA tournaments or NFL for ice breakers. Such things happen, if you uncomfortable tell them, else take it on the chin and move on.

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There’s a very low % chance that all your coworkers talk about is sports. Even if they did all you have to do is learn the basics of the sport or change the subject. My last team only talked about theatre, ended up giving it a try so I can be included in the conversations. Guess what I learned? Theatre is fucking rad

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Secretly learn about cricket and drop in obscure cricket references at random points of the conversation to see what happens.

likefunny

KPMG 4 - I don’t think the OP needs tips to start an all out nuclear war!

😁

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Same happened to me at a client once. I learned how to pronounce ‘mujhe samajh mein aa raha hai ki aap sab kuchh kah rahe hain’ (which means I know what you’re saying) and said it to the group talking in Hindi one night on my way out.

likefunnysmart

On my recent gig in Miami people spoke mostly in Spanish esp when upset or excited

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True. I was just in Miami and couldn’t believe how everyone defaults to Spanish. From shop keepers to professionals

Start speaking Klingon.

likefunny

It is one of or a mix Hindi/Urdu/Punjabi if Indians and Pakistanis are conversing in it with each other. Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi are extremely close in terms of speaking but written script is very different.

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I would honestly say something. It’s rude.

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Thanks everyone who relates to my frustration and gave good advice! 🙏🏼

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Kindly do the needful and get over it.

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Joke about it. Say you haven’t brushed up on your hindi yet. Politely and with a smile, but firmly. They will get the message.

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@accenture1
5 of them from all different regions. In fact one is from Pakistan. They are definitely talking in language whatever they understand only to each other. Which language do you think they are speaking then?

like

It would be kind of funny if they are just messing with you and speaking jibberish

I’ve had this situation happen before. Just be careful about the way you go about escalating or asking for them to not speak in Hindi. All of my management except for the project manager/senior manager level were Indian. So I escalated to the only non-Indian and then became ostracized and was viewed as someone that betrayed them. They retaliated by not telling me information that was crucial to my work until the last minute and my Indian manager would give me the most basic assignments. Jokes on them though, since that work was so easy, I just did trainings and other certifications so when the time came, I was the one to provide value, not them

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likefunnysmartupliftinghelpful

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