Growing up Thai Indian means you’ve lived in a world where Thai, English, and Bollywood all exist in one sentence. If this sounds like you, welcome to the club.
You Speak Thai, English, and “broken Hindi” you learnt from Bollywood
You speak both Thai and English at home and often mix the two languages within a single sentence like...."Can you hold my kapao, I need to fix my chunni." And lets not forget the constant use of the word 'ngai' at the end of an English sentence.
Plus, your Hindi? Total Bollywood remix, blame it on growing up with Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and DDLJ reruns.
You’ve attended more than 1 wedding in the same week (and multiple within the same year)
You either have too many friends or too many relatives and realize that a few people you're close to is getting married in the same week. You're changing more outfits than your Instagram can keep up.
You've also danced to at least two weddings in the same season. Same Bollywood track, same thumkas, different cousins. On top of that, you're bumping into the same aunties in different venues asking .. "So when is the good news?"
Your family is so big, you found out your "friend" is actually your third cousin
Having a conversation with one of your friends and realising your nani's are actually cousins. Or you have crush on a girl/guy until your mom points out how you guys are related.
Your house smelled like masalas… and sometimes Tom Yum
Your house smelled like identity crisis but in the best way. One minute, it was garam masala. The next, it was fish sauce and lime. We basically invented edible aromatherapy.
You eat Thai Indian fusion food at home
Fusions happen daily in the kitchen. Some days, it’s lobia or curry paired with Phad Kaprao. On other days, its kali daal with Phad Phak Woonsen or Panang Kai. It might sound unexpected, but somehow, it always works.
You’ve added nam pla phrik (fish sauce) to Indian food
Rajma, egg curry or chole with nam pla phrik is one of the best combinations. And add a Khai Jiew (Thai-style omelette) on the side, and it’s next-level comfort.
Kaphao Kai is your comfort food
Kaprao Kai is every Thai-Indian’s safety net. Too many choices? Just go with basil chicken and call it a win.
Your last name is a Thai-Indian hybrid only your community understands
You also mostly have a Thai and an Indian name or a hybrid last name like, Sethinamwong or Singhsachathep. Or you have two last names where your Indian name is Sachdev and your Thai last name might be Sachamuneewongse.
Your Thai friends think your last name is super exotic
Sometimes Thai people think your last name is too cool to actually be yours. (Mine didn’t believe “Sethichaiyen” was real. I had to show my ID to convince them!) It might also have been admired by the immigration officers.
You’ve had to explain, “Yes, I’m Thai… but also Indian” at least 500 times
Thais are often shocked when you speak Thai like a local. “Why is your Thai so fluent, are you mixed?” they ask. Then you explain how you're the third generation here and your grandparents came from India and so on.
You’ve bumped into an aunty in Emporium or EmQuartier
And its usually the same things you hear when you bump into them..."How are you beta? You've lost weight na..eating properly?.. the last time I saw you, you were chubbier than this."
You’re probably living in one of these areas
You likely live in Sukhumvit 24, 26, central areas between Nana - Phra Khanong, Thapra, See Yaek Baan Khaek ,Ratchapruek or Phattanakarn.
If you're a Sikh, you’ve had to explain to Thai friends why you don’t cut your hair
You’ve had to pause mid-lunch to explain why your hair’s never been cut. They listen, curious, maybe even ask about your patka or turban. And just like that, lunchtime turns into a mini culture class.
You get asked by uncle and aunties at weddings...... You know how I'm related to you?
Every Indian wedding brings mystery aunties. They know your whole family tree. You’re just trying to figure out their name. They often approach you saying, you look exactly like your mom or dad. Or they stun you with questions like, “Guess how we're related?” You pause, and the answer often goes something like, “I'm your dad's brother-in-law's wife's sister… and I carried you when you were this small!”
You read Masala Magazine
Masala Magazine is is how you keep up with the weddings, brunches, and who's launching what next. If you're not in it, you're looking for who is.
If you enjoyed reading this, don't forget to check out Five characters you meet at every Indian wedding.