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The spirit and gusto with which the expatriate student community has adapted to the culture and tradition of the City is truly impressive.

“We’ve never felt left out. The warmth, love and support we get from the people here is unmatched,” observes the international student community living in the City.

Metrolife interacted with a few expatriate students in the City and found that they had a lot to say about every aspect of the City — weather, food, shopping, friends and of course, the college that they are studying in.

Cows first, pedestrians laterAwad Ibet Chad from Central Africa, currently in final-year BBM at Indian Academy, says that one of the first things he observed about people
driving in the City was how they stop to let a cow pass but not a pedestrian.

“I was shocked at the sight of cows roaming freely on the road. I have also noticed that people here are united despite coming from different parts of the country,” he says.

Cheap clothes! 

Maria Bomboko from Congo is in her final-year BBM at Indian Academy. Like a lot of expatriates, she too is fascinated by Indian clothing, especially the sari.

“I love shopping and I must say that the prices of clothes are far cheaper here than back home. The education system is also not as expensive as it is made out to be,” she says.

Maria adds that she travels out of the City whenever she can make some time.

Rewarding journey

Sia L Mneney from Tanzania, who is in her third-year BBM at CMR Institute of Management Studies, says that she shops a lot and would love to drape a sari someday.

“I’ve never had a bad experience here and it has been a rewarding journey so far. I spend a lot of time exploring the City and don’t get tired of interacting with people. I like to understand their culture,” she says. 

Amazed by academics

Azizullah from Kabul, who is doing his second-year BCom at Indian Academy, feels that one must have a strong bargai­ning power to live in Bangalore.

He recollects how on his first visit to the City, he was almost fleeced by a taxi driver who offered to take him to his destination for Rs 1,000. “I don’t know how I wriggled out of the situation,” he says.

However, he is happy with his college. “The education system is good here and the teachers are warm and helpful,” he adds. Azizullah speaks fluent Hindi. 

Tired of drunkards

Mofasser from Bangladesh is in his second-year BBM at CMR Institute of Management Studies, says that he has made some interesting friends in the City but often finds drunk men while travelling in the buses.

“These drunk men often make random conversations and ask funny questions. I don’t
understand the language so I don’t react much. I have had my wallet stolen once or twice. I am extremely cautious after that,” he avers. 

Battling with the autos Kilembi Grace Helene, who is in her second-year BBM at Indian Academy, says that she always manages to have her way whenever she argues with the autorickshaw drivers.

“I don’t pay the autorickshaw drivers the extra money that they ask for. Instead, I fight my way into not paying them. While the City is good and welcoming,
I don’t like the stares from men.

It’s annoying,” she says.

Tryst with English

Ndirhuhirwe Bashige Jonas from Congo is doing his third-year BBM at CMR Institute of Management Studies.

He points out that a lot of people were scared of him at first.

“But they slowly got used to me and I have got used to them as well. I couldn’t speak a word of English earlier. I learnt the language after coming here,” he says.