JOIN USWork, family, convenience — it was a mix of many factors that influenced Glenda’s decision to move to Bengaluru. Born and brought up in Evansville in Indiana, it was her marriage to Rahm (born in India) that set in motion the chain of change.
Glenda describes the chance meet with her partner. “I worked in healthcare and mental health services for many years in Southern Indiana. In 1998, I was working for a hospital chain that happened to have an opening for the same position at their site in San Jose. So I took the transfer and moved to California.
It was the core area of the internet revolution and being a computer hobbyist, I started learning programming and changed careers. It was during that time that I met Rahm, who was living in the Silicon Valley then, through ‘America Online’ (AOL). We got married in 1999,” she says.
Subsequently, Glenda visited India, especially Bengaluru, many times — sometimes with Rahm and their three boys and sometimes even alone.
“I grew to love the culture and the atmosphere of this place. I love the cacophony of sights, sounds and scents that abound here,” she adds.
Rahm is not surprised at his wife’s ability to blend in with what must have been a completely alien culture.
“She loves India and Indian culture. In fact, when she was in college, she used to keep an idol of Ganesha with her for good luck. She has always been interested in Indian history and is very proud of being married to an Indian. So I had no apprehensions about bringing her here,” he says.
The move was necessitated when Rahm’s first startup in India, ‘DriveU’, took off. Since he spent a lot of time shuttling between their home in the US and his business in India, the family finally decided to relocate to Bengaluru to be together. And now everyone loves it here, especially their two dogs — Heidi and Molly. “They are absolutely thriving. Even though they are almost 13-years-old, their energy and antics make them seem like five-year-olds,” says Glenda. “And India suits them well because they are looking healthier with shinier coats and all.”
Heidi and Molly are favourites at the office too, where they like to hang out with all the employees and other pets.
They have the special distinction of being ‘NRI dogs’, as some people there like to call them, much to Glenda and Rahm’s amusement. But they too devote a good part of their weekends to keep the dogs happy by taking them out for walks and short trips. When not pampering their pets, Glenda and Rahm go shopping or head out for a relaxed evening. “I like to shop at Bangalore Central and sometimes go by myself. But if I am going to the 4th block market or 9th block in Jayanagar or similar local stores, it helps to have Rahm with me to get the best deal,” states Glenda.
Rahm laughs. “It’s funny that when I am with her, the price of everything — from oranges to riding an autorickshaw — goes up. For example, at times the cost of one orange goes up from Rs 10 to Rs 80. It’s when I speak in clear Kannada or Hindi that these shopkeepers realise I am a local. I tell Glenda it’s a ‘foreigner tax’.”
But Glenda has no complaints. “I do face the language barrier but still I have found that most people here are welcoming, helpful and friendly. I am also in awe of the myriad services available on demand, especially in-home services, which can be availed simply by using the internet or an app. And the places here are so beautiful. We recently spent a few days in (and near) Ooty — it was awesome and peaceful. Other trips we thoroughly enjoyed were to the Bandipur National Park and Mysuru. We are also looking forward to visiting Goa and Rishikesh in the near future.”
But she does miss a few things about the places she has left behind. “In Indiana, I miss all the friends I grew up with and came to know over the years. I miss the ease of mobility in California — being able to go and do whatever I want without facing any difficulties like traffic and language barriers. But these are small things and overall, I am really happy about our decision to come to India.”