'I had a tough time driving in the City'

Expatriates love Bangalore for its cosmopolitan lifestyle, salubrious environment, food and people. Kamal Khalifa, an expat from Eritrea, shares his experiences here.

Kamal Khalifa, who hails from Asmara in Eritrea, loves Bangalore for the opportunities it offers and its amazing weather.He says he likes almost everything about the City — after he got acquainted with the lifestyle here.

“Initially, it was very difficult for me to have a conversation with someone. Now that I’m learning English by attending a course, I feel more comfortable communicating with people here. My teachers and friends have also helped,” he explains.

   “It was relatively easy for me to adjust to the City as compared to other foreigners because I have a cousin here,” he adds.

After completing his studies in Asmara, Kamal came to Bangalore to pursue a course in English at the Career College. He says he has had his share of highs and lows as a foreigner.

“I had a tough time driving here. It’s a challenge to deal with all the vehicles on the roads. Although I had a problem with even exchanging a few words with the localites earlier, I’m comfortable now,” he says.

Being a huge football fan, he whines about how the City does not have many football fields.

Kamal says it’s been three months since he has been in the City and confesses that he is having a great time as a student. He likes to keep to himself but appreciates the fact that his teachers, friends and the family that he currently lives with as a paying guest have been very supportive and helpful.

“I used to stay with my cousin earlier but now I’m a paying guest. Although it was easier for me when my cousin was here, I can do things on my own now,” Kamal admits.
He says that sometimes, he finds it a little strange that familiar people don’t greet him in the same way on all occasions.

 “I feel people here are a little moody,” he adds.Kamal says that the weather in Eritrea is very hot and not as nice as that in Bangalore.

“I love the architecture in the City too. In my home town, although we mostly live as joint families under one roof, the houses are far away from each other,” he says. Kamal likes to explore the City and learn new languages.

He says now he is proud that he knows not just English but a little bit of Urdu as well.
He wishes to learn French and Kannada too.Apart from Eritrean friends, Kamal also has Indian friends.

He says, “I like watching cricket matches and movies and also going to ‘Wonder
La’ with my friends. We usually hang out and play cricket.” He’s a big fan of Indian chicken dishes.

“I relish tandoori chicken, chicken biryani and the flavours of the Indian masalas in most of the dishes,” he says. Apart from the chicken, he likes to enjoy a meal at his favourite restaurant, Empire, in Frazer Town.

He has travelled to Ooty with his friends and hopes to travel to Agra to see the Taj Mahal soon. He admits that he might have to say goodbye to the City after he finishes his course and aspires to join a multinational company back home.