'I love Bollywood dancing'

For most people, coming and settling in another country is an adventure in itself. Robert Holt, who is from The Netherlands, was living with wife Liliana and son Conor in Miami, USA, before they moved to Bengaluru in 2015. Robert’s parents are English and Irish, while Liliana is originally from Peru. Robert works as an Audit Manager with Grant Thornton.

The couple visited the country in June 2015 before they decided to move here in October of the same year. “Our first visit was to get a feel of the place and to understand the country better. I didn’t know what to expect. I had seen a lot of Bollywood movies but there’s a lot less dancing and singing in real life,” Robert says and laughs. Liliana had visited India earlier for a wedding and had enjoyed her time here. “I loved the vibrant culture,” she says.

Robert volunteered to come to Bengaluru as he believed that it would be an exciting place. “I wanted to explore the rich culture. The growth opportunities and talent here is phenomenal,” he says. Before coming to Bengaluru, there were not many apprehensions on the couple’s minds. “I was warned about the honking of the vehicles and after I came here, I realised that it was true. But after a week, I stopped noticing it,” says Robert.  
Robert grew up in Rotterdam and did his elementary and high school education there. “I did my university studies in London. My parents are retired and they are travelling around,” he says. Liliana did her masters in New York, before she moved to Miami.

They refer to Miami as their hometown as that’s where they got married and where their son was born. “We call Miami home as it gifted us all the precious moments in our lives.

Having been born as an expatriate, I have always been on the move and I am able to adapt easily to everything,” he adds. The couple vouch that Miami is also a melting pot of cultures. “We live by the beach. The temperature there is very close to what it is here, which made it an easier transition,” adds Liliana.

Liliana feels that there are  a lot of differences and similarities in the cultures she was  exposed to and what she sees in Bengaluru. “Since this is a big city with a lot of big companies and buildings around, it reminds me of the busy life in New York. Many people here live the same lifestyle with deadlines, stress  and  traffic problems,” she says. She vouches that it has been an amazing experience to see the city grow over the years.
Robert’s world comprises of family and friends. “This has also made me realise that strangers are friends waiting to happen,” he says.

Before coming to India, Robert always thought that India would have only one core language. “Later I realised that there are so many languages. It was just like back home, where there are so many people from Caribbean Islands, Puerto Rico and on,” he adds.

Robert feels that Bengaluru is not a typical Indian city. “When I think of Indian cities, it is Delhi or Chennai that comes to my mind. Bengaluru has a lot of buildings which makes it a more hi-tech city. It is nice to have all these services just a stone’s throw away, something which oneassociates with a world-class city,” he says.

The couple love the people here. “We live in a gated community and socialise a lot with other expatriates from UK, USA, Sweden and The Netherlands. We want to head out to the city more, but travelling around can be quite a challenge,” says Robert. He adds that everything the family likes doing is close by. “There is a new place  called Virginia Mall, which has a nice indoor playground. We also love going to Phoenix MarketCity as it is a world class mall,” says Robert. The family is also involved with the Latin community which meets on a monthly basis across the city.

Indian food is a favourite, vouches Robert. “The only thing is that whenever I am with Indian friends, I let them order because they know which is the most delicious food. But I am never able to remember the names. Before coming to India, I was more partial to non-vegetarian dishes but now I have had many wonderful experiences with vegetarian dishes like ‘dal’-based curries. The portions are big and very affordable too,” says Robert.

The couple likes ordering in food from places like ‘Dial A Chaat’. “I like ordering through ‘Zomato’ as sometimes with my accent, ordering something over the phone can get really tricky,” he say with a smile.

Liliana and Robert love watching films and have also watched some Bollywood movies. “I love Bollywood dancing. It has this fun and charming element to it. Even when I am dead tired, I feel all energetic and ready for the day after watching a dance number. It has a lot of happy hormones and is very addictive,” says Liliana.

The couple love the city for the many things they have observed around. “We have learnt a lot here. I’m into arts and using creative energy and it has been fun to interact with other mothers, who come out with their own creations. It has been a very colourful journey here,” says Liliana.