I don't know any Indian people, really, but the first time I saw Indian women was at Disneyworld. They were visiting and had on the saris and their noses were pierced. I asked my mom, "Oh mommy, which princesses are they? I've never seen that movie!" She explained they were from India. I was OBSESSED with them and made mom follow them around for a while...LOL. I asked for a full year to pierce my nose and for a "dot on my head"...lol. I so wanted to be Indian.
Of course, I also went through a phase where I would wear nothing but moccasins and wanted to build a teepee in the back yard, too. Different type of Indian, but same obsession...lol.