'Friendly' low-cost India makes
Europeans smile
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/384113/039friendly039-low-cost-india-makes.html
Delhi is emerging as one of the most popular
destinations for twenty-something Europeans, despite crowded streets and issues
of women’s safety, as job opportunities, new life experiences, a relaxed
lifestyle and a low cost of living make it hard to resist for some.
Young expatriates
shared their stories. Excerpts:
* Living in Delhi has been a
fantastic journey, spanning two years. Coming here I thought would be good
adventure. I still believe it. People have been friendly. But expat life also
has a dark side. Sometimes, I have felt that the city is unsafe for women. What
happened recently was darker. I learnt about the Khirki episode, the midnight
raid, in newspapers. Friends talked about it in the workplace. It is easier
being white in this country, at most you get mugged by rickshaw wallahs. India has lower
cost of living. It’s a big lure for young people. I can buy better lifestyle
here than in Germany.
Expat life is wonderful, rich with newer experiences. But staying too long
could mean neither here nor there.
Helga Stern, a German
citizen working as a consultant for an NGO
* The last week was
full of happiness, especially when I met my friends again. In one year, many of
my friends changed a lot intellectually, so it was interesting to meet them
again. I was also glad to see that my very grandparents still look gorgeous and
young. And you can’t imagine how good I felt when I returned to Paris: I walked around my university for some time, and I
realised how crazily beautiful can be Paris.
Those old buildings lit up by the sun have such a charm – you have to see it
one day, you have to! Lekin, ghabraie maat, dilli se bhi pagal hoon! (But don’t
worry, I am mad about Delhi!)
Yes, I also miss Delhi
a lot. In fact, this is my Indian life that I am missing. I know you are going
to like what I am going to say – yes, life in France
can appear to be very boring in comparison with life in India. I mean,
in India,
I felt my everyday life was an everyday adventure. When you take a rickshaw,
you never know what can happen. In Paris,
when you take a bus, well, you just take a bus. My existence in Dilli was
thrilling. Always discovering new monuments, new atmospheres, new cultures, new
foods. Here, I feel that everything is so common. It is very, very hard to get
back to a normal and quiet life. In fact, it is depressing. But no worries, I
was expecting this little moment of sadness, so I take it easy.
Hugo Ribadeau Dumas,
a former student of Jamia Millia Islamia, shares one of his messages written
from Paris to a
friend
* I came to India, first as
a student and later as an intern with an NGO. I feel really attached to my
adopted country. Here, I got to sample new ways of life. It should not be
difficult to get an Indian work visa because I have specialised in urban
development. The rules say that the skills and experiences should be unique to
the place of work. Maybe it is time to think about settling down permanently by
finding a long-term work contract. My friend did this in Singapore and
he’s just so happy about his job. He is even planning to marry.Denise Ripamonti
from Italy
talks about his plans
Hugo says he is
concerned about shrinking job opportunities in France. One of the limiting factor
that could affect his chances of coming back to Delhi is that foreigners must earn an
equivalent of $25,000 per year in order to be considered for employment visa.