'It is a good city and I want to stay here'

The openness of the people and the cultural diversity was what attracted Shao Qiyu from Anhui, China to Bengaluru.

He came to the city six years ago to pursue his graduation and promptly fell in love with the place. He now runs a restaurant called ‘New Leaf’ on Church Street that serves authentic Chinese food.

Shao’s aim is to connect his motherland with the city that gave him so much to cherish.

“After so many years of living here, I have seen the city grow faster and bigger. Bengaluru is not a stagnant place and change is the only constant here. The work culture is a blessing for corporates and new businesses. People here are easy-going and they have a vibrant lifestyle. The liberal mindset I saw here made me fall in love with this place. It is a good city and I want to stay here,” says Shao.

He also highlights that there are many opportunities for youngsters who would like to start something on their own.

The weather was another reason why he chose Bengaluru over any other metro city in India.

But all the good things about this place doesn’t let the bad ones fade away.

Though Shao did not face many challenges in the city, he admits that people tend to take him for a ride when they realise that he is a foreigner.

“I have not faced any racial discrimination here, but I have been cheated many times. They assume that since I am from China, I may be very rich. Some of my local friends tell me that I should learn
Kannada to avoid falling into such traps,” adds Shao.     

Nevertheless, he feels blessed to have made many friends, most of whom are localites, and who have helped him whenever needed.

When asked about his college days, he remembers his travels to few places in the North, thanks to his friend from Delhi.

From the busy streets of Lucknow to majestic snow-capped mountains, the trip gave him a lot of
memories.

Ask him about his adventures in Bengaluru and he says, “Since now my restaurant is on Church Street, I hang out mostly in this part of the city. Otherwise, one can find me visiting the southern part of the city where my college is located. If I have time to take a long vacation, I plan trips to nearby places like Goa and Ooty. My college friends and I are still in touch. Though I have to focus a lot more of the business now, I make an effort to meet them whenever I can.”

To tide over the feelings of homesickness, Shao also makes it a point to celebrate all Chinese festivals with his friends.

Having said that, he tries to be a part of the city as much as he can.

One of the things he enjoys is South Indian breakfast but when it comes to lunch and dinner, he is a fan of North Indian food.

The different types of ‘dosas’, ‘pooris’, fish and mutton curries are some of the dishes he likes to relish.

Shao also spends his time watching movies with his friends and often catches up with them for a Bollywood or Hollywood flick at Garuda Mall or in Koramangala.

He is a fan of Aamir Khan and says that ‘PK’, ‘Dangal’ and ‘3 Idiots’ are some of his favourites.

Talking about the changes he wants to see in the city, Shao says, “I wish that ongoing work on Church Street could be completed a little faster as it would be really helpful to me. As my restaurant is located right there, the business is getting affected.”