'Accha' Nod To Removing Shoes: Russian Woman Lists 11 'Strange Habits' She Picked Up In India | VIDEO

Moving to a new country often means adopting customs that once felt unusual but soon become second nature. For Russian content creator Anastasia Sharova, who has been living in India for the past four years, this journey has led to a collection of quirky yet meaningful habits that now define her daily life.In a viral Instagram reel titled “Strange habits that I adopted when I moved to India,'' which

has already racked up over two million views—Sharova listed 11 everyday practices she has embraced since settling here.Among them is the habit of giving short honks before blind turns, something she says has become essential on Indian roads. Another shift is removing shoes before entering homes and shops, which she admits “makes perfect sense in the local context.”She also highlighted more traditional rituals, such as participating in family hair oiling sessions and taking part in evening mosquito smoke routines to keep pests away. At mealtimes, she now always keeps a jar of pickles on the table and enjoys fennel seeds or cardamom after meals, mirroring Indian dining customs.Other habits include carrying a steel flask everywhere, adopting the “accha” nod to signal agreement, and mastering the local style of drinking water without letting the bottle touch her lips. Her greetings have also changed: handshakes are out, while a respectful “namaste” with folded hands is now her go-to.

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Living in rural India has brought practical changes too. Sharova says she regularly checks shoes and bathrooms for frogs—or even snakes, a precaution that has become routine.Reflecting on her journey, she explained why she called them strange: “You may ask why I called them strange. Because when people from outside see them out of context, they ask me: Why did you do that? For me, now they are the most logical things to do.”Sharova’s story captures how small, everyday adaptations can reshape life abroad, turning once “strange” habits into logical, comforting routines.