Expats talk about living in the city and the challenges they face daily
A file picture of foreigners in the city used for representative purposes only
You may have heard of the Australian boy and his friend who were allegedly harassed by a crowd for a tattoo on the boy’s leg, of a Hindu deity. And chances are you have scoffed at the incident because it joins a very long list of verbal or physical violence against foreigners who display a point of difference, in this city. They may look different, they may have had different upbringings, but expats and tourists who walk the streets of Bengaluru have it no easier than the average Bengalurean.
Many foreigners seem locked in a struggle that does not get any easier with the years they spend in India. In a long conversation, Anubis Nirvana, a Venezuelan and Bengalurean, spoke about the daily horrors that stepping out of her home entails. “From auto drivers to the men on the streets, if I tell you the incidences of the past week itself, you will know that life is not easy here. From being pushed out of an auto with my kids and my friend who is visiting from China, to being looked at and leached at by men even though I may be fully covered — this is not the Bengaluru which I visited 12 years ago, where people would smile and greet you on the streets. I face the rudeness of the public transport service providers, day in and day out. My husband is Indian and my children are half Indian. We had thought of living in India forever, but it is scarily becoming more and more impossible for us,” says Anubis.
Even though Bengaluru tops a list of some of the more tolerant cities in India, tourists are known to educate themselves extensively on customs before setting foot inside the country. A documentary film-maker from France, Suze Zampiere was recently in the city as part of a year long tour of India. She says, “Honestly speaking, there was a lot of catcalling and leaching on the streets, but the Indian women around me were facing the same. My advice is to read a lot before travelling. You cannot barge into a country like India and not be very cautious of the atmosphere.”
Beth McClure, a woman who came here from England and now works and runs the popular blog on expat life has long been aware of the trials involved in negotiating life in India. She says, “I have had the privilege of living here for the past seven years. When you come to another country, it is important to respect the culture, however there is of course, a line that should not be crossed towards foreigners or visitors from other countries. India has to take many steps to improve its attitude on religious intolerance, sexual harassment or violence.”
Founder of ExpatLife India and a co-founder of the Expat Entrepreneurs Circle, Ema Trinidad is a familiar face in the city’s wellness circuit. Ema says, “Recently, I was on a cab which refused to park on the side of the road where I needed to get off. I opened the door, and in that very moment, a bike came speeding and the door hit the two men on it. Immediately, there was a mob that had gathered to blame me for it. It did not matter that it was not my fault.”
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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