The expat population in Bangalore is ever increasing. They have learnt to love and accept the City and have made it their second home.
It isn’t just professionals though. There is a growing population of expat students who are choosing to pursue their education here.
This trend is interesting as many Indian students still want to go abroad to study.
On the other hand, youngsters from Iran, Korea, London, Africa, Australia, America and even Germany are coming here.
Some come to learn English, while others complete their degrees and continue to work here as well. There are also those whose parents are working here,
because of which they join City colleges.
Nevertheless, their life is no different from students of this country. They have to adjust to the food and language and make friends.
Like most Bangaloreans, they too have to haggle with auto drivers, manage their pocket money and keep up with the rest of the class when it comes to studies.
Many foreign students tell Metrolife about how they overcame the challenges and adjusted in the City.
For those who don’t have family here, one of the biggest hurdles is finding
accommodation. While most colleges do provide a place for the first-year students, other students don’t always have an easy time. Satakshi, a student from Nepal, says that for a single girl to get a good paying guest accommodation in the City is very difficult.
“I had to really run around a lot to get a good place. As a foreigner, I didn’t know the language or the place very well. But the experience has helped me learn so much about how to take care of myself. And now, I am more prepared for any situation,” she adds.
They also face problems with the autorickshaw drivers. Ashik Kabir, a student who has come here under the Bangladesh Scholarship Students scheme, says that there’s always the fear of not knowing the local language and being fleeced in the
bargain.
“Many times, the auto drivers try to mislead us when they get to know that we are not from here. But like any other place, one learns to handle them in the long run,” he adds.
Eunhye Kang (Evelyn), a South Korean student, says that the City has been her home since 2003.
Staying with her family, Evelyn has learnt her way around and believes this is
her second home.
“It really saddens me to see how the City is filled with garbage, dust and
smoke. The pollution level has increased since I first came. This used to be a Garden City and I hope to contribute to bringing back that lost glory to the City,” she adds.
For many, living here also means bringing two different cultures together.
Armin, an Iranian student from Chitrakala Parishat, has been in the City for the last three years. And one of the main reasons for him to come here was to experience a
different culture.
“As a creative person, I wanted to bring in different perspectives and philosophies to my work. And Bangalore has given me that. Having stayed here for close to three and a half years, I have faced many obstacles.
But at the same time, I have learnt to overcome them as well. Be it with language or food, I have tried to add a bit of Bangalore to me,” he sums up.