A European man’s now-viral post on X (formerly Twitter) has garnered nationwide attention for sharing lessons he learnt during his time in India. The man, who goes by @NikHuno on X, outlined ten invaluable lessons he picked up since moving to the South Asian country over a year ago.
I’m European.
— NIK HUNO 🦉 (@NikHuno) February 5, 2025
Last year, I moved to India.
What I experienced shattered my Western mindset.
Here are 10 life-changing lessons I learned in India that reshaped how I see the world: pic.twitter.com/gcdxm5ffHu
“I’m European. Last year, I moved to India. What I experienced shattered my Western mindset. Here are 10 life-changing lessons I learned in India that reshaped how I see the world,” he wrote in a thread featuring a picture of him and his friend in India. Take a look the ten insights below:
Time Bends Here: One of the first things he noticed was the unpredictability of public transport like trains, which people rely on heavily. Though this may be a nuisance to some, Indians have learnt to live with it. This uncertainty gave Hugo to appreciate time as it comes.
Huno wrote: “Indian trains can run 12+ hours late, yet no one panics. I learned that life doesn't always follow a schedule. Sometimes, the best moments happen when you stop rushing and let time find its own rhythm."
Scarcity Breeds Genius: Amazed at how the citizens fair with limited resources at times of scarcity, Huno compared the hustle to the fast-paced and bustling Wall Street.
Huno wrote: “Farmers grow crops in deserts. Street vendors haggle like Wall Street traders. Constraints aren't limits.”
Work Should Be Sacred: No matter how small minute the task at hand is, the European observed how work is not treated like a burden, but instead as “sacred” in the country.
Huno wrote: “The West treats work like a punishment. In India, even street vendors bring devotion to what they do. You can turn anything into a calling—if you show up with presence.”
Status Is Invisible: From what Huno has seen during his time in India, he noticed that having money does not command respect but wisdom and knowledge triumphs, which ultimately made him question his own objectives in life.
Huno wrote: “Barefoot monks command more respect than CEOs. Here, wisdom > wealth. It made me question: What am I truly chasing in life?”
Chaos is a System: Witnessing Mumbai’s infamous traffic and over-crowded transport system, he found some underlying order in chaos and found that it is in Indians' blood to find rhythm in disarray.
Huno wrote: “Mumbai's streets look chaotic, yet they move 20M people daily. I learned that what seems disorganized often has its own rhythm and logic.”
Less is More: Using a tea vendor as an analogy for freedom, Huno shared an epiphany that freedom stems from simplicity and “needing less” and not about accumulating more.
Huno wrote: “A street vendor serves tea for 5 cents but owns his time. I realized freedom isn't about having more it's about needing less.”
Noise Reveals Truth: Even with India’s diversity and multitude of languages, Huno noticed that “a shared purpose” unites all, transcending all language barriers.
Huno wrote: “India has 780 languages, but a shared purpose unites them. I learned that clarity of purpose transcends all barriers even language.”
Nature is Sacred: It is not a surprise that Huno observed the allegiance that Indian citizens hold to nature. Understanding that the rivers, like Ganga, are not just exploited, he also learnt that respecting nature was essential.
Huno wrote: “Rivers like the Ganges are respected, not just used. Respect for nature isn’t optional—it’s essential.”
You’re Already Rich: Huno observed that Indians will refuse to pay bribes with counterfeit bills, showcasing that integrity always lies above wealth.
Huno wrote: “In India, people refuse bribes with a fake bill that says ‘I won’t pay.’ It’s a reminder that real value isn’t just about money. The greatest wealth isn’t in your wallet—it’s in your integrity.”
The Power Of Community: Emphasising the strength of community, Huno noticed how people will not hesitate to help one another, highlighting the strong foundation that India is built upon.
Huno wrote: “In India, strangers become family in moments of need. Connection is the foundation of both survival and joy.”
