It’s obvious that Thabea, a German national who has settled down in the City, loves Bangalore. Whenever she talks about it, she gets a twinkle in her eyes. She is currently working for the Goethe Institut and says that she has seen the City change over the course of time.
“I have been to Bangalore many times earlier, but came here to work at the Institut a year ago. I had visited the City back in 2009; at that time, the Metro was not ready and now, it’s functioning! I took a ride on the Metro and it was wonderful,” she says.
Unlike many, who believe the City to be too crowded, Thabea is all praises for Bangalore and loves spending time with her friends and colleagues at work. A resident of CV Raman Nagar, she feels that Bangalore is a very likeable city. “The weather is very nice and suits people from different countries.
But what makes this City really different is its people. They are very hospitable and warm; I have never felt out of place or uncomfortable. It has been a wonderful experience for me. The cosmopolitan environment here helps me,” she states.
However, her experiences with the traffic in the City have left her shocked. She admits that it took her a while to acclimatise to the way of life here. “When I first came here, I had a tough time adjusting to the rush and people not following the rules. However, with time, I have gotten used to it. I love taking a ride in the autorickshaws — it’s a different experience. I wish Germany had autos,” she says.
Though she feels that the local food is spicy, she enjoys occasional sessions with her friends, when she goes out and tries all kinds of dishes. “The food is spicy, but I do go to different hotels and restaurants and try the cuisine. I cannot pick any particular dish that I like; I have had nice meals at many restaurants. I love the chai here, though. It is really refreshing and I like stopping at some small tea stall and having a cup. Since people here are friendly, I don’t feel out of place doing it,” she adds.
She goes on to add that she has been treated well in the City, and the warmth of the people has encouraged her to stay. “People here are very forward thinking and hence, those who come from other countries do not take much time to get comfortable here. Bangalore is a beautiful City — it is green and has a lot of options for people of all age groups. It all depends on how a person utilises his or her opportunities here. I love visiting Lalbagh due to its lush greenery and the fact that it is well maintained. Occasionally, I also take trips to nearby hill stations. Apart from all this, there are lots of other things in the City to keep one occupied,” she notes.
However, she does not hesitate when it comes to pointing out areas which need improvement. “As compared to other Indian cities, Bangalore has good infrastructure. However, the traffic situation needs to improve. People here need to follow the rules when they are out on the road. It becomes extremely difficult for pedestrians and other motorists otherwise. The garbage issue is also a huge problem — Bangaloreans need to understand the value and importance of keeping the City clean and hence, segregate their waste. They discard the trash thinking that once it is out on the roads, it is not their problem. Something needs to be done in this regard,” she points out.
Thabea plans to return to Germany to pursue her education, but says that she would like to settle down in the City for good after that. She adds that she has made some good friends here. “My friends are nice. They keep me busy and entertained. They also show me around the City and involve me in their customs and traditions. I have had the experience of seeing an Indian wedding, and I found it extremely colourful. There are no words to describe how beautiful it is,” she signs off.Treena Mukherjee