In the last 30+ years, have flown almost exclusively out of the USA/Europe (except for flights to/from, of course) and one could only wish for the consistancy of ATC services that, for example, most of Europe/USA provides.
From the days on 6624 (AM, no sideband then in the BOM FIR) until today in many far away locals, it sometimes is very difficult deciding just what ATC really expects.