98 | The Unexpected Reasons I Never Left India

Why I Chose India: The Real Story Behind My Journey People ask me this all the time: “Jessica, why did you move to India? Why have you stayed here for so many years? Why did you learn Hindi? Why did you marry an Indian?”In this episode, I’m sharing the real story behind those decisions.I talk about how India’s incredible economic growth first caught my attention while I was studying business in the United States, why I became fascinated by India’s rich culture and diversity, and the unforgettable experience with an Indian family in America that completely changed my perception of India and its people.That single act of kindness stayed with me for years and eventually led me to take an internship in India, a decision that transformed my life forever.This episode is a personal reflection on curiosity, culture, kindness, and the unexpected journey that made India feel like home.This episode is fully in Hindi! Check out my courses at www.learnhindianywhere.com

Tajammul Islam talks about growing up in Kashmir and becoming an international kickboxing champion at a very young age. The interview is less about medals and more about what it took emotionally and socially to get there.She did not grow up with an environment that naturally encouraged girls to pursue combat sports. There were societal expectations, criticism from people around her, and practical obstacles. Yet her family — especially her father — continued supporting her.She explains how discipline became part of her identity very early. Training wasn’t dependent on motivation. It became routine, sacrifice, and responsibility.Dr Sujit Paul, corporate tycoon, but also personal coach and mentor, interviews Tajammul about the challenges in her life and how she grew up in such a conservative state in India, yet still found her passion. This video is shared with permission from Dr Sujit Paul. Be sure to check out his other videos as he uncovers stories of amazing people overcoming barriers and finding their true calling in life. www.sujitpaul.comGiven his crossover work between corporate work, personal growth and spirituality, you will see why I wanted to have him on the show. Shared with courtesy from Dr Sujit Paul.See the full YouTube version here.

What do you think about consciousness? What happens after death?Dr. Sujit Paul is a dedicated and passionate individual with a mission to help others unlock their full potential. With an impressive 25+ years of experience in personal development and holistic coaching, he has established himself as a trusted expert in the field. He is also a veteran executive having worked for some of the largest brands in India. He and Jessica had a full conversation about spirituality, and how people can live their best lives. Watch the full episode 96 on India with Jessica on YouTube here. Find out more about Dr. Sujit Paul and his counseling and mentoring services at www.sujitpaul.com

There are 5 common mistakes that most Hindi learners make and I have solutions for each of them. Whether is it speaking informally or following "bookish" Hindi, there are easy fixes for them all. Getting confused while Indians speak fast, freezing while speaking Hindi or getting confused with grammar, we have answers.Mentioned in the episode Free Hindi RoadmapHindi Learner's Corner- Consult one on one with JessicaHindi Membership See the video version on YouTube!

Jessica spills all the tea with Chandra Chandhok, who brings her into the Verona Matchmaking ecosystem, where there are no rules and ANYTHING can be said.  Jessica and Chandra dive into an hour long conversation about cross-cultural marriage, specifically what it is like to be in an Indian-American relationship.In this episode:Do cultural differences really make that big of a difference?Beyond the sparks, what makes a marriage last?How do you deal with controlling in-laws?How do you deal with the stereotypes people have about India?Listen in and comment on social media if you want to share about your experiences._________________Mentioned in the episode:Jessica's newest course "Intermediate Hindi Grammar Level One." If you're beyond basic Hindi and want to become more fluent, this is the course for you! Also check out "Interacting Confidently with Indian Family and In-Laws," which is a course specifically for those who want to communicate better with their own Indian family or Indian partner's family.______________Sign up for my ⁠newsletter HERE ⁠to get Hindi learning deals and updates on new content! See all my Hindi courses! ⁠www.learnhindianywhere.com

Most of us could use help in connecting better with our in-laws, especially when their is a culture gap. In episode 93, Jessica Kumar talks about her top 3 strategies for building bridges with Indian in-laws as an American married to an Indian. There is no sure fire way to a perfect relationship, but these 3 things go a long way and can win over most aunties and uncles and give them a positive impression. My new course "Interacting Confidently with Indian Family and In-Laws" covers Hindi that you need to know as well as sociological concepts which will help you navigate tricky relationships!Perfect For:Romantic partners of Indians who want to better understand Indian family cultureNRIs looking to improve interaction with eldersBrides and grooms of Indian origin preparing for their weddingIndians living abroad who want to stay connected with family traditions and customsAnyone attending an Indian wedding who wants to practice Hindi before the eventSee the 14 part course here-- it includes video lessons, homework, audio files and printable materials to help you better interact with Indian family members.All my courses at www.learnhindianywhere.comHindi Membership Interest List/ Waiting ListBy dropping your email you are joining the update and waitlist for the Hindi membership, launching in January 2026! This is not a commitment to sign up, but an interest list for those of you who would be interested in joining a group where we have live classes, an exclusive platform and weekly prompts for greater accountability.Drop your info here

Gunjan Bradshaw Saini and Jessica have a completely different situation, yet much in common. Gunjan is Punjabi married to an American man. Jessica is American married to a Bihari man. While Gunjan and Jessica may seem to be on opposite sides of life, they have similar misunderstandings, culture clashes and hilarious moments with their families and husband's families as well. Gunjan and Jessica discuss the juiciest listener questions in this episode and talk through our personal experiences about cross-cultural conflicts.  Related Episodes:Episode 63 Behind the Scenes of an Indian-American MarriageEpisode 59 Help! I'm in Love with an IndianEpisode 42 What We Would Change About Our Indian American Wedding Sign up for my ⁠newsletter HERE ⁠to get Hindi learning deals and updates on new content! See all my other courses! ⁠www.learnhindianywhere.com

India has an ecosystem of multilingualism. Yet there is an immense pressure to let go of indigenous languages which are less frequently used and adopt majority languages like Hindi. In India, the modern hierarchy of languages puts English on top, major languages like Hindi in the middle and regional languages and dialects on the bottom. A sad state of linguicide is occurring in India and regional languages are being lost. Listen in to my conversation with the Lexicon Club at Patna Women's College in Patna, Bihar. The conversation covers my personal experiences, thoughts on regional language retention and a vibrant question and answer session with the bright young women of Patna Women's College.  Related Episodes ⁠41 "Exploring Indian Education"⁠ Episode 78 "Indian vs Western Education."⁠⁠Episode 1 "Why Did We Move Back to India?" Sign up for my ⁠newsletter HERE ⁠to get Hindi learning deals and updates on new content! See all my other courses! ⁠www.learnhindianywhere.com

What do kids need to prepare for the future? Are the current educational philosophies of today cutting it? I dove deep into conscious, self-driven learning with Ms Lina Ashar.Ms. Lina Ashar. is a renowned and prominent educationist. Not only has she started She has started over 100 centres in India, Dubai, Qatar, and Maldives today. Ms. Ashar founded Billabong High International School, was was ranked one of the top 10 international schools in india. Her newest venture, Dreamtime Learning School, one of its kind education-first schools exploring conscious learning and online schooling for kids in India and beyond. But today, we go far outside the boundaries of education between east and west and talk about preparing kids for the future while equipping them with the technological tools of today, right thinking patterns and self-driven learning. Related Episodes 41 "Exploring Indian Education" and 78 "Indian vs Western Education."See a short YouTube Version on my channel. Sign up for my newsletter HERE to get Hindi learning deals and updates on new content!

What kind of questions can you expect to be asked by the average person in India? As a person who has lived in India for almost 2 decades, I have heard a lot of odd questions and underlying assumptions about foreigners. Hear my reaction to the top 5 overly personal questions, invasive or just plain strange questions I get asked regularly in India. Understand more about Indian culture from this video and learn Hindi with me at www.learnhindianywhere.com where I have online video courses which you can do at your own pace. ____ Learn Hindi with me! ____ I currently have 5 courses: -Hindi Hacks - beginner course -Overcome Hindi Pronunciation Pitfalls- beginner/intermediate course -Hindi Grammar Foundations- beginner course -Kids' Hindi Kickstarter Course- kids age 4-10 beginner course -Travel Hindi You Will Actually Use I also do one on one consults to help you get assessed and figure out how you get from where you are to where you want to be! SEE ALL COURSES HERE https://learn-hindi-anywhere.teachable.com/