WTNY 8-26-2007 07:57
Frenchman Jean-Philippe's observations on living in Bangalore, India
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Jean-Philippe moved from France to Bangalore, India, because of his involvement in the creation of a chain of French cafes and bakeries there. As most people do, he finds both good and bad things about living in a country that is not the land of his birth.
Jean-Philippe Gliscard
October 18 2006
-Where were you born?
Paris, France
-In which country and city are you living now?
Bangalore, India
-Are you living alone or with your family?
With my girlfriend
-How long have you been living in India?
Since June 2006
-What is your age?
28
-When did you come up with the idea of living in India?
When I was proposed with an interesting job in this country. This project is the brainchild of serial entrepreneur Philip Cherian, an Indian citizen living in the US. Traveling frequently to France on business, he fell in love with the French cafes and boulangeries.
-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
I think they make it all but impossible to give you a visa. For most of the French people, it is a big issue to get an employment visa if they work for an Indian company.
-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
I’ll manage with medical insurance later.
-How do you make your living in India? Do have any income generated?
My employer has contacted the employment service of my engineering school. Recognizing that the economic and cultural environment in India is ripe for international offerings in the food and beverage industry, he set up this enterprise. The chain will endeavor to faithfully reproduce an authentic array of offerings and ambience.
-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
We can manage without speaking Hindi or Kanada. We do everything possible to respect local customs. It is not a big issue in Bangalore.
-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
No, not too much.
-Do you have other plans for the future?
I think about traveling to Japan or South America.
-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
The company rented an apartment for us. We don’t know for how much they rent the apartment.
-What is the cost of living in India?
It is more expensive than I thought. Bangalore is a very expensive Indian city. For example, classic Indian restaurants are very expensive like kerala or Tamil nadu, and at pubs and bars now you have to pay the entrance (between 200 rupees and 400 rupees) just to take a beer.
-What do you think about the Indian people?
White people pay twice the price. This is the philosophy in this place. For the rest, there is no real problem.
-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in India?
What I like most about living and working in India is the sense of tranquility. People are friendly and helpful. The climate in Bangalore is excellent. What I do not like is the lack of discipline of the people and the way in which they try to do things with a short-term objective. The road sense of most people is appalling. It takes a lot of patience to live in India.
-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about living in India?
The French Bakery in Bangalore