One Year.
It's been exactly one year since I made the move away from home. I thought I'd write this the moment I moved, but figured it would make more sense to give the city a chance to impress yours truly.
I hated the city at first sight. The city was Bangalore, and it was six hours on a good day from Chennai, which was home. It was the closest you can be to home while staying away. Which was good!
I was moving jobs, to a better job which paid more, had a better brand name et al. Everything that would force you to leave the ones you loved. Goldman Sachs was calling, and I had to respond. The packing was easy. I meant to get back home every week for my teaching (I taught Auditing and Law over the weekends in Chennai, that I didnt mean to discontinue); which meant less clothes packed. More kept at home for the weekends, when I would really live.
I took the 6 AM train from home to Bangalore (I don't want to call it the random new place anymore). I got down at a wrong station, the one farthest from home, got conned by a taxi guy and ended up paying 300 bucks for a 15 km ride. All on the first day. And yes, I also shared my cab with this girl who tried to make conversation with me. (Beware of alcohol, cigarettes and girls, my grandma warned me before I left Chennai. Fat Chance.) A typical first day at Bangalore.
My house was a 3 bedroom apartment in a nicely maintained gated community. The swimming pool was brilliant, the gym was rarely used and my roommates friendly. It took me six hours to set things right (Did I say I packed less?). The only saving grace to this date in Bangalore is our amazing cook who lives with us.
Okay, whats good about the city?
The city is vibrant. It's much more alive than any city I had been in. Maybe not as vibrant as Dubai, but definitely up there. The people, extremely friendly. There are more people from outside states here than locals. Which is good, because everybody is lost, and nobody has time to throw tantrums that you'd more easily see in a Chennai or Kolkata. Nobody to say 'my city'. There are one or two, but hey, not that many!
The weather is brilliant. Its chilly most of the days.Which makes the unbearable bearable. Like the hour long waits in traffic, travelling to work at weird timings (there were days when I left from work at 2 AM). There is always a slight drizzle that I would like to imagine is at par with the weather in the UK. Okay, maybe a little too much scene.
The work. When you travel 700 km home to and fro every weekend, it is normal for you not come back too excited some Mondays. This has not happened to me. Yet. There is top quality work to be done with top quality people.
Why do I still hate the city?
The sambar. THIS IS NOT HOW YOU MAKE SAMBAR GUYS!No excuse. Bring the firing squad in. Thanks god my cook makes the Chennai sambar (also known as normal sambar).
The culture. This is totally on me. I cant drink or smoke. I am a laidback, reserved 23 year old who would prefer a book to an evening at the pub. And people who judge, judge. Which is not going to change that fact that I am a laidback, bla bla bla. The best thing about Bangalore is the Blossoms Bookstore and that will always be it for me. Nothing else.
The infrastructure. I grew up in Dubai, but spent most of my teenage in Chennai. My expectations are not sky high. All I expect is a road. Black, wide, with tar. A road. Bangalore has roads, but none you can see. All you can see is the bumper of the car in front of you. Or if you walk, the potholes on the side. Don't try it, unless you want to get drenched.
Right, to sum up. Wonderful one year, with wonderful people (most of them). More Bangalore rants coming up. For now ta ta bye bye when is the next bus to Chennai da?
It's been exactly one year since I made the move away from home. I thought I'd write this the moment I moved, but figured it would make more sense to give the city a chance to impress yours truly.
I hated the city at first sight. The city was Bangalore, and it was six hours on a good day from Chennai, which was home. It was the closest you can be to home while staying away. Which was good!
I was moving jobs, to a better job which paid more, had a better brand name et al. Everything that would force you to leave the ones you loved. Goldman Sachs was calling, and I had to respond. The packing was easy. I meant to get back home every week for my teaching (I taught Auditing and Law over the weekends in Chennai, that I didnt mean to discontinue); which meant less clothes packed. More kept at home for the weekends, when I would really live.
I took the 6 AM train from home to Bangalore (I don't want to call it the random new place anymore). I got down at a wrong station, the one farthest from home, got conned by a taxi guy and ended up paying 300 bucks for a 15 km ride. All on the first day. And yes, I also shared my cab with this girl who tried to make conversation with me. (Beware of alcohol, cigarettes and girls, my grandma warned me before I left Chennai. Fat Chance.) A typical first day at Bangalore.
My house was a 3 bedroom apartment in a nicely maintained gated community. The swimming pool was brilliant, the gym was rarely used and my roommates friendly. It took me six hours to set things right (Did I say I packed less?). The only saving grace to this date in Bangalore is our amazing cook who lives with us.
Okay, whats good about the city?
The city is vibrant. It's much more alive than any city I had been in. Maybe not as vibrant as Dubai, but definitely up there. The people, extremely friendly. There are more people from outside states here than locals. Which is good, because everybody is lost, and nobody has time to throw tantrums that you'd more easily see in a Chennai or Kolkata. Nobody to say 'my city'. There are one or two, but hey, not that many!
The weather is brilliant. Its chilly most of the days.Which makes the unbearable bearable. Like the hour long waits in traffic, travelling to work at weird timings (there were days when I left from work at 2 AM). There is always a slight drizzle that I would like to imagine is at par with the weather in the UK. Okay, maybe a little too much scene.
The work. When you travel 700 km home to and fro every weekend, it is normal for you not come back too excited some Mondays. This has not happened to me. Yet. There is top quality work to be done with top quality people.
Why do I still hate the city?
The sambar. THIS IS NOT HOW YOU MAKE SAMBAR GUYS!No excuse. Bring the firing squad in. Thanks god my cook makes the Chennai sambar (also known as normal sambar).
The culture. This is totally on me. I cant drink or smoke. I am a laidback, reserved 23 year old who would prefer a book to an evening at the pub. And people who judge, judge. Which is not going to change that fact that I am a laidback, bla bla bla. The best thing about Bangalore is the Blossoms Bookstore and that will always be it for me. Nothing else.
The infrastructure. I grew up in Dubai, but spent most of my teenage in Chennai. My expectations are not sky high. All I expect is a road. Black, wide, with tar. A road. Bangalore has roads, but none you can see. All you can see is the bumper of the car in front of you. Or if you walk, the potholes on the side. Don't try it, unless you want to get drenched.
Right, to sum up. Wonderful one year, with wonderful people (most of them). More Bangalore rants coming up. For now ta ta bye bye when is the next bus to Chennai da?
I've lived in Bangalore for the past few years, was born and raised in Abu Dhabi. Also a CA. Also an avid reader. Oh the similarities!
ReplyDeleteI feel you! But hey, the city grows on you after a while, so hang in there. :)
Also, so nice to read grammatically correct text on a blog of this kind! :)
Also, do write more! :)
- Samantha
Hey Samantha. Thanks for your kind words. I don't read the comments on my blog very ofree, so apologies for the late reply reply. :)
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