Former Google MD shares how he met Punjabi storeowner in Portuguese port city. Netizens share similar experiences

Parminder Singh shared how he encountered a Punjabi storeowner during a recent trip to Portugal’s Faro.

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If you are an Indian travelling abroad, you must have come across a fellow Indian migrant or traveller who may have helped you or just struck a pleasant conversation that makes you remember your homeland. Parminder Singh, former MD of Google and Twitter, shared a similar experience as he encountered a Punjabi storeowner at a Portuguese port city.

Taking to Twitter, Parminder shared how after flying for 17 hours and then a three-hour drive, he arrived at an Air BnB in Faro, a Portuguese port city. He went to a nearby supermarket at midnight for morning tea supplies and as he was going over the unfamiliar brands, the storeowner greeted him with familiar Punjabi and said, “Sat Sri Akal, I’m Inderjit from Jalandhar!”

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Parminder shared how he has experienced kindness while travelling in foreign lands not just from Punjabis and Indians but Pakistanis as well, from cab drivers who refused taxi fares to a Barcelona restaurant owner who treated him to a free beer.

After flying 17 hrs, driving 3 hrs, you arrive at ur Air BnB in Faro, a Portuguese port city. You hunt down the last open minimercado at midnight for morning tea supplies. As you wade thru unfamiliar brands, the storeowner greets you, “Sat Sri Akal, I’m Inderjit from Jalandhar!”

— Parminder Singh (@parrysingh) March 8, 2023

Parminder’s tweet prompted Twitterati to share their similar experiences.

“Similar experience. Landed in Lisboa via Euro-rail at noonish. Wife suddenly started craving for butter chicken. Found a Punjabi restaurant in some back alleys. Amazing butter chicken,” commented a user.

Similar experience. Landed in Lisboa via Euro-rail at noonish. Wife suddenly started craving for butter chicken.

Found a Punjabi restaurant in some back alleys. Amazing butter chicken.

— Abhinav Khare (@iabhinavKhare) March 8, 2023

I love our Punjabi brethren who are literally EVERYWHERE

— Monica Jasuja (@jasuja) March 8, 2023

Had this experience in London recently. My parents and I were walking at Stratford and I was talking to my mother in Gujarati. A guy was walking right behind as he was listening to us and I asked him.. Indian? He said Gujarati. Then my mother greeted him with Jai Shri Krishna❤️❤️

— Mitra Joshi (@mitrajo) March 8, 2023

Had the exact same experience in Bucharest. Ordered the Uber. Sat down – was looking at my phone & then a hear a very polite voice – “Kaise ho Sir, Chalein?”

— Prashant Yadav (@raoprashantyad) March 8, 2023

A pakistani driver in Dubai refused to accept fare from me just because he noticed I was talking in Punjabi. ❤️

Moreover, showed his family’s pictures from their trip to India, stating “Dilli te lahore wargi hai” 💞

— Mrinalini Arora (@MrinaliniArora) March 8, 2023

“I love our Punjabi brethren who are literally EVERYWHERE,” said another. “Had this experience in London recently. My parents and I were walking at Stratford and I was talking to my mother in Gujarati. A guy was walking right behind as he was listening to us and I asked him.. Indian? He said Gujarati. Then my mother greeted him with Jai Shri Krishna,” shared a third.