A Conversation you'll no doubt have if you travel india

There are a few very (i mean very) repititive conversations you'll have with indian people while your travelling in this country. Most of them happen on trains, buses, or in taxi cabs. At first there totally interesting and they hold your attention span, but after about the 30th of each conversation (beleive me these happen twice a day if your on the move) they start to get a little old and a little boring. This is a "tecnique" i use to sort of minimize the length of conversation becuase after a while you'll begin to know which conversations are the one's which will last a whole squished and hot journey if you don't end them quick. Actually its sort of a defence mechanism againts boring conversation you could say.
This is the first example and easily the most common conversation i have (ive had probably 40 variations of this since ive been here)
This usually happens on a bus or a short train ride and usually it happens with a person who speaks scattered or broken english. You can usually understand them easy enough but it takes a little time and they have to talk slow...also theres about 3 or 4 other men or women watching you and listenening while this conversation is happening (depending on how crowded the bus or train is). The man (becuase odds are women wont strike up a conversation with you) is usually accompanied by someone and he's usually the better of the two with english.
Indian: which country ?
Me: Im from canada
Indian: O, canada (turns and says something in Hindi to his freind, they smile and laugh) Canada very good country, very cold ?
Me: Yes very cold
Indian: How cold?
Me: At home right now maybe minus 10 to minus 15
Indian: O, soo cold (turns and says something in Hindi - probably about how cold it is and makes shivering motion to his freinds - they all laugh and look with disbeleif then he says ) here it gets maybe 10 to 12 degree's (he's no doubt wrapped in a blanket (of course this depends on the time of day/type of journey) then proceeds to ask me) Canada a rich country?
Me: I guess, canada is very different from india... (im trying to kill the topic of wealth quickly and he most likely gets the point, this teqnique has taken a while to master, ive seriously spent hours explaining how my house has 3 floors to a group of men - big mistake)
Indian: Whats your name?
Me: Steven
Indian: Im "so and so" and if he's with a close freind he will usually introduce them aswell
Me (very politely, but in a somewhat dismissive way (knowing this could go on for a while and odds are im not in the mood. You see once they know your name your in for a whole stack of predictable questions): Nice to meet you (shaking there hands)
Indian: Are you married?
Me: No....im young still in canada to be married, again very different country (trying to kill topic, again perfecting the technique)
Indian: You have girlfreind?
Me: No, no girlfreind either
Indian: Why no girlfreind (laughing and talking to his freinds after asking me question)
Me: I don't know....... im still young?(again trying to kill subject)
Indian: How old?
Me: Im 23... (bull shit but this is an age that usually will work to settle the dispute of how old i am between them (becuase they think i look really old for some reason) and will put to rest why im so far away from home at such a young age. Again perfecting the technique)
Indian: You work in India?
Me: No, im a traveller, backpacking around seeing the country (i show him my backpack then say) very beautiful country.
Indian: You work at home?
Me: No, im a student (well going to be a student...agan eisier to kill the topic)
Indian: What do you study? (after turning around and telling his freinds that im a student)
Me: I am taking the courses i need to get into buisness school (its true, i think)
Indian: O' buisness very good, (tells freinds then asks) Buisness and what major? (most indians im having this conversation with are around the ages of 30 to 50..i think... and are very well informed about the world and the way education works no matter what there caste or apperance)
Me: Buisness and marketing major (this will put to rest the topic of my major and most likely satisfy there questions as to what i do at home and the whole topic of school)
Indian: Ooo, You christian?
Me: No im a catholic.. (this completely puts to rest the religion issue, never tell an indian you dont beleive in god or that your agnostic. Dont use the Buddhist thing either becuase odds are there more well informed on the subject then you are becuase of the close relation to Hinduism)
Indian: So christmas?
Me: Yes, like Diwali..but in Canada in winter.
Indian: Yes, here too (excitedly)
Me: (by this point im really hoping to end this conversation quickly, you might think of me as rude right now, but beleive me it gets very tiring after a while awnsering the same questions over and over again. And the other thing is your travelling in what is in all odds a small and un comfortable seat on a train or bus so your patients is low) Yes..... ( i begin to put my headphones in without taking my i pod out of my bag, dont ever take an i pod touch out of your bag, they'll go nuts and insist on seeing it. Its totally innocent and truly there just curiuos but still you never know....and it could be a while till you get it back. Then i proceed to take my book out and say) Nice meeting you "so and so" im going to read know (politely but dismissively then shake his hand)
Indian: Ok (pulling out mobile phone) you have mobile?
Me: No, not with me (usually my only mistake and a fatal one at that)
Indian: O in canada? Whats number?
Me: (FUCK) Umm its 1780 913 9530....its lont distance and you need to dial from land line...(again huge mistake, this could lead to a whole explanation of area codes and phone numbers in canada with 10 digits)
Indian: O ok.... (telling his freinds in Hindi) You have paper or pen?
Me: Yes (knowing this will end conversation sooner than later)
Indian: Ok my mobile is "number" and dial # for outside "state"
Me: Ok thank you "so and so"....(trying to go back to my now open book)
Indian: When good time to call?
Me: Ummm im home 18 of december (knowing/or thinking the odds of me getting a call are low and the odds are that this guy just wants my name in his contact list to show to his freinds)
Indian: ok i call you maybe January "certain day" ok?
Me: Ok sounds good, nice talking to you (now more dismissive)
Indian: Ok Nice meeting you too, freind steven (and showing me my digits in his phone)

This conversation like i said before is very common and happens with a wide range of people here. Odds are the Indians are just curuios about you becuase your the only white person on the bus/train and there just trying to kill time to. Although the conversation is completely harmless, it can get on your nerves quickly for the reasons i explained above and i now probably have about 10 new phone numbers saved in my "contacts" in my ipod and another 10 written on the inside covers of books.
I dont know why im posting this, its just sort of a funny part of travelling when your by yourself and im sure people have experienced the same thing many times before me. I really think the whole conversation takes place just so they can get my phone number in there contact list, although about half the conversations end without the cell phone being brought out. Again you may think of me rude for trying to be dismissive, but Indians are very nosy, gossipy people and will proceed to ask you question after question without taking hints if you dont play the conversation right...beleive me after a while you realize which conversations are worth having and which are going to be endless.
love you all
steve