union county college participate seminar talk immigrant issues portrayed works literature topic emerged works jhumpa lahiri books interpreter maladies namesake selected college novels term talk chatting deal cultural differences everyday life country narrating incidents life connection namesake talking significance names cultures address interpreted giving film namesake ashoke ashima reacted maxine addressed ashoke faculty members mentioned students address surprise cases students addressing professors insistence professors professor mentioned instance students addressed miss told india call lady teachers schools miss student thought address madam college felt students mentioned home country portugal address teachers professor coffee prof coffee addressing prof demeaning experiencing culture shock learn absorb shock arrived country language behavior matters environment surroundings surprises quite things granted feel obvious culture rare exotic case point highlighted cartoon long time kids amazed common animals goats cows everyday streets india kids watch similarly visitors india herds deer backyard excited india deer exotic forest reserves shocked common people keeping snakes lizards pets country india vain stay reptiles list shocking experiences share culture shock experience good laugh click comment link hilarious experiences feel 