Overheard In New York

Archive for the ‘India Indians’ Category

Wednesday One-Liners Think “Abroad” Sounds Dirty

20-something college student: I saw the movie Australia the other day, and I couldn’t understand anything because they all had English accents.

–2 Train

Indian woman with accent, recalling story to husband: So I called up customer service, and right away the woman said “Oh, priti, you must be Indian”. I said “No, I am not.” I was like “What? Are you kidding me? I call customer service and they put me through to India? Then she said “Have you ever been to India?”, I was like “No, I have not, is it nice?”

–Jackson Heights

Overheard by: Marie Z.

10-year-old girl, emoting mockingly for her minder: And I can see *Russia* from my *house*!

–74th & Broadway

Overheard by: Harriet Vane

Woman on cell: It’s okay, I’ve got a plan. We’ll move to Mexico, buy a lemonade stand by buying parts from a guy called Javier, earn some money, then smuggle ourselves and our belongings over the border to America, where no one will know what happened.

–5th Ave

30-something to friend: Apparently all of England’s problems can’t be solved by strangling an old guy!

–Roosevelt Island

And Laugh About ’em Behind Their Backs

Indian snack counter vendor: What’s that on your head, man?
Security guard with ash cross on head, in thick New York accent: It’s ash Wednesday.
Indian snack counter vendor, snickering: Okay.
Security guard: Hey, I don’t laugh at you guys when you put dots on your heads. You gotta respect other people’s beliefs.

–9th St & Broadway

Overheard by: The Chocolate Muffin Sucked

“It’s a Small Wednesday One-Liner After All”

College girl: Yeah, the worst part about Africa was that we, like, didn’t go out!

–Starbucks

Overheard by: Noemi

Shabby-looking blue collar mom to distinguished older Indian woman: Ohhh! I have always wanted to go to Bollywood! I love East Africa and Asia! I wanted to buy a bonsai tree, but they are way too expensive.

–5 Train

20-something, looking at Washington arch: There was something like this in France.

–Washington Square Park

Overheard by: M

Guy on cell: I swear I didn’t have sex with her when I was in Norway.

–Lower East Side

Today, He is Truly an African-American

Black guy: Good god. I had to actually work today.
Indian chick: By “work” you obviously mean taking credit for the many hours of hard labor endured by my fellow Indian IT brethren who report to you. You exploiting bastard.
Black guy: Ha, ha. Like slavery. But I’m Black.
Indian chick: Oh, the wicked irony.
Black guy: Word. 

–Wall Street

Overheard by: drama