JOIN US'Everything here keeps changing'
For some, travelling is a passion and experiencing a new place is a happy adventure. Laura Diaz, a Spanish teacher with Trio World Academy, moved to the city last year and says that her stay in the country was triggered by the passion for learning about new cultures. Originally from Madrid, Spain, she worked in the UK for a while and is on her second expatriate assignment in Bengaluru.
Laura is from the city’s centre in Madrid — the hub of Spanish culture. “Madrid being the capital of Spain is a big city and proudly boasts of a rich heritage. People from all across the country and the world come to visit and stay there,” says Laura. The city’s tradition includes theatre and cinema and there are several beautiful places to visit. “Madrid is the perfect place for people who are young at heart. It’s a great place to hang out at night.”
The young teacher completed her studies in Madrid and her family and friends are living there. She misses being with them. “I spent most of my life there. But being here was my choice and I know that I can visit them any time,” she says with a smile. She adds that her hometown has a lush green space with pretty parks and also houses a university. “It’s one of the most happening places in Spain!”Having lived in the UK for 5 years, Laura points out that staying in Europe and in India are different experiences. “It is a very unique professional and personal experience,” she points out. Her job happened by coincidence — she had moved back to Spain and was looking for good opportunities, just when the travel enthusiast in her grabbed the opportunity as the offer came. “I like trying different things and being exposed to new cultures. I love to not just visit places but also live there for a while and get to know the people there,” she says.
Laura had been to Rajasthan, India for 20 days, 10 years ago and was aware that Bengaluru is a modern city. “Though Delhi and Mumbai are more popular, I had heard that Bengaluru was an IT hub and a developing city. But I wasn’t aware that things changed by the day here — this is what I have observed. From the shops to the roads, everything here keeps changing often. I was amazed by this growth,” she says.
Having good memories of the country from before, Laura was excited to explore more. “Bengaluru is a very lively city, which works on a fast pace. There are a lot of people here, a lot of noise
and the roads are flooded by traffic. The city can boast of a lot of energy,” she says. Laura is fascinated about how the Metro work is progressing and how infrastructural developments can be seen everyday.
She is happy to be working with Trio and says that when one enjoys what they are doing, then everything around becomes an enjoyable experience.
“I’m very comfortable here. I love the fact that I can interact with people from all across the country and the world.” Laura draws parallels between the culture back home and Indian culture and says that the values are the same. “Our sense of belonging and affection towards family, the importance of friendships and other relationships and being there for each other, is very similar,” says Laura. She adds, “Our sense of humour is also similar and I feel comfortable making friends here.”
Laura loves to try different restaurants and feels that Bengaluru is a haven for anyone, who loves concerts, different activities and exploring food. “I frequent The Fatty Bao in Indiranagar, Sunny’s Restaurant near UB City, The Only Place, Hard Rock Cafe, Toit and Habanero. Many misunderstand Spanish food to be spicy. Our food has a mix of garlic and herbs, but isn’t loaded with spice.
There are many Spaniards who like spicy food and I love it too, but not an overdose of it. I love indulging in ‘butter chicken’ and other specialities like chicken ‘masala’. I love snacking on the ‘samosa’ and having ‘basmati rice’, ‘paneer’ dishes and ‘chapatis’.”
Though the pollution can be disturbing, Laura says that many things make up for the negative aspects of the city. “The city is also not very pedestrian-friendly and I have heard people with children talk about how it gets difficult for them to move around. The pavements are not in a good condition here.”
But she says that there is a lot to explore here. “I love the fact that I can find anything I would like to do here. I have been exploring myself and the city alongside, during my stay here.” Laura also feels safe in Bengaluru. “I’ve never faced any untoward incidents and I have found my stay here rather pleasant. I love the city.”