This week I learned to speak Punjabi then spoke it in Indian restaurants and bazaars – people were totally shocked! India is actually one of the world’s most linguistically diverse countries – in addition to Hindi and English, hundreds of other languages are spoken, including, in a small corner of northern India, the Punjabi language. The Punjabi people live spread across both India and Pakistan and have a rich and beautiful culture with incredible food, music, and religion. And here in New York City if you head to Punjab Avenue in Queens you’ll find a small but thriving community of Punjabis, particularly Punjabi Sikhs but also Hindus, Muslims, and Christians as well. So this week I brushed up on my Punjabi and headed out there to chat with the locals, who are wonderfully encouraging when it comes to learning their language. What an experience speaking Punjabi as a foreigner!
