Case 1
There is a friend named A of mine who is educated and very well know that not all Muslims are terrorists. He respects the identity and religion other fellow human mates follow and he don't have any problem with that. In fact he has very good relations with his Muslim friends, neighbors an...
I am tempted to close-vote it as unanswerable on SE. I did not because I think there might be some tips-and-tricks which are applicable to make the traveller feel less insecure.
Although the only real answer would be: educate people instead of brainwashing them so that *phobia becomes a thing of the past.
ITA Matrix can do this using the / alliance limiter, there's star-alliance, skyteam and oneworld. To give an example I used the original question as parameters -- I couldn't find anything direct so I asked for one connection:
I answered his question
This is the question he wanted to ask
Hope Lemuel Gulliver will see it.
@RoflcoptrException can you send him a message :) ?
In part due to not properly checking ahead, I've just discovered that it's Diwali this weekend. I'm currently in India on a work trip, visiting a number of people in an office here.
Based on something someone said in passing over lunch, I get the feeling that I may be presented with a small gift...
That is like mothers day here, or fathers day, those are the gifts you might buy your loved one for a special year, not what you buy in a normal year, and would certainly not be right for an office.
Do you have a tradition at home where you give small gifts at the office or in the wider circle of family or friends?
The factory I am in is a bit noisy and I am not near a radio, so I do not hear the news during the day. In the evening I watch TV, skipping the news, and I tend to forget to catch up.
@Gagravarr If you ask for advice, make sure it's not someone who has a vested interest in selling you something :)
The only thing I know about Diwali gifts is that employers give them to their employees. For example, my friend has a housekeeper, and for Diwali she gives her a saree worth INR 600. It's something almost everybody does. I believe companies also give gifts to their employees in corporate settings as well. But I don't know if it happens between colleagues on that level (as equals.) I'd have to call a friend who works in a white collar job, and I would if it wasn't the middle of the night.
it wouldn't quite be "as equals" - I'm more senior than everyone I'm meeting with, which is partly why I think I especially might need to be doing something...
Another thing, your intuition is certainly correct that when they say "No, you're a westerner, you don't need to give anything" it may not mean much at all. It could easily just be normal Indian politeness. Since you are their boss, they'll also be extra polite to you due to that.