Indian Greetings

[Michael Hildner]

We're about to have a couple of programmers from India (not sure exactly where) come work with us in the USA. I'd really like to welcome them warmly. Maybe introduce myself in their language, have some food of their culture. Any ideas?

[Andy Ceponis]

If i was to go to India or Thailand or any country for that matter i dont think i would want to eat MY cultural food. I would want to try the food of the country that i am visiting. So my suggestion is to take them to McDonalds and ask them "This is how we eat here in America: Do you want #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, or #8?"

[Badriprasad Bumbabol]

Must appreciate your attitude before anything else. Abt Welcoming them, I guess, its going to be a difficult tasks as we speak around 18 Different languages. but theres some hope, most of us can speak or at least understand Hindi. So i guess if u can manage a few lines of Hindi, it will be great. Same goes for food too. The people from North India have eating habits quite different from those from the South, East , West and Central. but there's a high chance that they will eat Rice with Curry no matter where they are from,though the north guys prefer Chapatis(Bread) in place of rice.
I can give u exact details abt all aspects but I will need more detail abt what exactly are u looking for.
Last but not the least, a good percentage of us (indians who are working abroad) speak and understand excellent English and dont have much complaints abt food. So shud be fine if u just manage some basic stuff.
Indian in London
Tintin

[Michael Hildner]

Maybe the food idea isn't a good one. How about a few words in Hindi? How do I say "Hello" for example.

[Saran Vel]

Your Attitude is really impressive.. Thanks on behalf of Indians..
To say Welcome, u can say,
"Namasthe" -- pronounced as "Na-Ma- S (as in 'is') - The (as is 'Theft')", in Hindi..(National Language of India)
If i know their names i could probably assume, where they r from.. and can help u more.
Saran
[This message has been edited by Saran Vel (edited May 03, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Saran Vel (edited May 03, 2001).]

[Nanhesru Ningyake]

That's really nice of you Michael.
How about a welcome performance from a team of cheerleaders, all wearing sarees?

[Sri Nivas]

Michael, yes all Indians working in USA and elsewhere will definitely apppreciate your attitude. Feels good ...( I am from India )
Well, here is one sentence to greet your colleaugues from India.
Namasthe, America may aap ka swaagath high.
It means "Hello, Welcome to America."

[Shama Khan]

Most of the indians that I encounter in the IT field here in New York are from south India and understand very little Hindi.
I would say most Indians will take well to a breakfast party with coffee and donuts.

[Anonymous]

Shama Khan,
Although South Indians know only a little Hindi, almost every Indian knows and understands namasthe.

[hemanth kumar]

Well if they r from Southern part of India, There are 4 different languages from 4 different states
State Language Greeting
-------------------------------------------------------------
Karnataka Kannada Namaskara
Andhra Telugu Vandanam
Tamilnadu Tamil Vannakkam
Kerala Malayalam ???
Of course from each of these states u can find some more Sub Dialects of each of the languages.
If he/she is from Bangalore, then in all probability he/she will understand any of the above 2 languages including Hindi, English

[Ashok Mash]

State Language Greeting
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kerala Malayalam - Namaskaram
And most of we Keralites( mallus ) talk excellent Hindi as well.
So we normally decorate our CVs like this --
Languages known : Java, C, C++, English, Hindi, Malayalam & Tamil.
I am not kidding....
Cheers,
Ashok

[Michael Hildner]

Thanks everyone for providing some information. Sorry I do not know their names/where they're from. I've decided on coffee and donuts and trying to say 'Namasthe, America may aap ka swaagath high.' Thanks again