'Spirituality is at its best here'

Expat zone

For Kristien Offeciers, husband Wim Vermeiren and daughter Roos, the transition between Belgium, which is their home-country and Bangalore, wasn’t a very taxing one.

   They like their experience here and have picked up from the culture and tradition that they see around them.

Comfortably settled in a villa on Hagadur Road, Wim works in a managerial position with a multinational company in the City. He was here a few months before the family flew in.

Wim feels that Whitefield is an easy place for expats to settle in since it’s far away from the traffic and the craziness of the City. “We have a lot of options for dining around, and many shopping points too,” says Wim.

Kristien and the family have always felt accepted in the City. Kristien shares, “Everyone is so open and receiving here. They are very caring and take care of each other. It is a value we need to learn. People generously contribute to causes and indulge themselves in charity-based activities over the weekends. People are more socially-oriented here, and mostly very respectful.”

Talking about the respect factor, Kristien says, “It is hard to miss the difference between people belonging to different work classes here though. Sometimes, the way the gardener talks to the driver or other conversations between people surprise us since we are taught to respect people from all classes.”

She adds, “I have to agree though that people here are definitely more giving by nature. In fact, it’s even strange since we were advised to not give alms to beggars but we see so many Indians giving generously to them.”

Talking about the Indian culture, Kristien says, “People here try and preserve their culture better. It reflects in the many festivals they have, the food and the clothes.”
   Wim and Kristien say, “The colours of the fabrics are bright and so vibrant here. And the different saris that the women wear are so pretty. Our country and the whole of Europe is so westernised with everyone wearing a pair of jeans. It’s amazing to see different religions here and how they co-exist in peace.”

“We haven’t really been a part of the festivities in the City but Deepavali was absolutely grand with the candles and diyas while we were in Jaipur,” says Kristien.
Wim adds, “Spirituality is at its best here. Traditions like remembering family and relatives, who have passed on, are an amazing part of the culture.”

“We’ve travelled a bit and been to Goa, Hampi, Mysore, Coorg and other places. I loved Delhi, and we got to see a lot there. Compared to Delhi, there is nothing to do here in Bangalore,” says Kristien.

Adjusting to the City took its own time with the cultures varying from each other.
“The garbage was a very difficult issue to adjust to. When we came here, there was a forest-like area around our place, full of trees and now that area is also being dumped with garbage,” says Kristien.

She adds, “In schools and our education system in Belgium, we are taught and it is mandatory to keep one’s surroundings clean. The stuff on the roads in the City have often shocked me. There’s a long way to go on this regard.”

The traffic here mind-boggles the couple and Kristien says that she wouldn’t dare to drive on the City’s roads due to the choc-o-bloc traffic, and the constant honking.
About the safety of the City, Kristien comments, “I’ve never felt threatened in this city. Never once have I felt scared. People are very accepting and I’ve never had a bad reaction from anyone to feel out of place.”

Kristien, Wim and Roos have a liking for Indian food. “We love all the different breads here like the rotis, chapatis, naans. I love dal as it’s very healthy. Anything with yogurt also interests me. We also love the idli and dosas and the chutneys,” says an excited Kristien. “We usually have Western food at home which includes beef, fish and pastas. But the maid cooks Indian food for us like curry and fried rice,” she adds.

“Food seems to be a big part of the tradition here. Anyone who goes to their hometown comes back with sweets and snacks from home, and then I see it circulating all around office. It’s almost every other day, which really amuses me,” says Wim with a smile.

Ask the family about any funny incidents they’ve had to go through here, and Wim says, “Once, the doors beside the kitchen was open, and there was a monkey prancing about. When I told the people in the compound, they asked if all was fine and reacted very subtly as if it was normal.”

Kristien says, “We feel monkeys belong to the zoo and so, it was a totally funny experience.”