What Is Your Good Name?

“I always prefer taking 2nd class train tickets- it gives me an opportunity to speak with Indians.”

I have heard this sentence so many times, mainly from European travelers, and I must admit to something quite unpopular. On 95% of the time, I hate these train conversations. It’s usually just having the same standard conversation over and over (and over) again.
It will always consist of at least five out of the following ten questions:

What is your good name*? (A must)
Which country?
How much time are you in India?
What is your age?
Are you married?
What is your religion?
Do you eat non-veg?
What do you do in your country?
What is your salary?
What’s your local currency’s worth in Rupees?

At first you like it. Then you get the hang of it, but you still have the patience for it. As time goes buy, you become bored of it, especially on long rides when you have several of these conversations consecutively. I’ve met some travelers who start making up answers (“I’m from Atlantis”, “I’m a Jedi Knight” etc.). I don’t feel like lying, but lately I stopped caring about being understood.

Hello, What is your good name?
Avner.
Alnay?
Yeh, yeh.

* "Good" is added because that is the polite way to ask this in Hindi: "Apka shub naam kia hai? ".