Expat Story: From Austria to Bangalore, India

ABOUT

Alena Bitterlich is 23 years old and originally from Austria. She finished her high school in Austria and then decided to go abroad, backpacking and traveling the world.

Tell us about yourself

I was meant to go to India at the end of that year to do my YTTC before starting university in Austria, Vienna, to study Transcultural Communication, but I ended up loving India so much that I changed my entire plan and joined the Bachelors of yoga therapy in Bangalore.

My mother tongue is Austrian / German. I speak English and Spanish as well. I learnt Latin and Sanskrit, and a bit of Hindi!

Moving to Bangalore

When and why did you move to India?

I moved to India in 2019 for my Bachelors.

How did you get set up?

I still only use cash in India. I usually bring a lot of euros and change it with a contact of mine. I am considering getting a bank account though, as I am on business visa now and in India the online payment methods are very common.

Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there?

I had an Austrian international medical insurance for the first semester. It was crazy expensive and they ended up covering none of the expenses, so I only have my normal insurance in Europe, not in india. In India, I pay my medical bills directly.

How did you find an apartment in Bangalore?

I got a flat after my second year of university. I used to stay at hostels, then got a 1 bedroom apartment. I went directly to the area, found a building under construction and my friend got the number from the owner. He arranged for me to be a tenant there. It was a bit complex with the deposit, but everything else was fine. Now I stay in a long term Airbnb because I keep shifting places. My rent back then was like 85 euros, in the outskirts of bangalore. Now it’s around 400 euros in Delhi and short term.

What surprised you about life there?

I think what surprised me in a way is how easy you can make life here. yYu can literally order anything to your room. There is a vast range of lifestyles you can have. I wasn’t used to such luxury. But then of course you also see how difficult some lifestyles people can have here. That didn’t surprise me but touched me deeply, you know what I mean?

What are the main differences between Austrians and Indians?

There are more differences than similarities in general haha. But I think the main difference is that in Austria people are more individualistic. That sounds simple but it affects so many areas of life and your mindset. Also your openness and definition of personal space.

Living in Bangalore

What should people consider before deciding to move to Bangalore?

When considering moving to Bangalore as a foreigner, you need to ask your heart: Are you ready for a completely different culture and world? Languages? Everything is different. Are you ready to give up what you had known? And are you open to exploring a new world which can and should change you and your values deeply? But then again, even if you shift to Bangalore you could build yourself a life which does not include going outside your house often. And getting help like maids. So it always depends on which kind of lifestyle you are searching for.

What specifically is Bangalore famous for?

Bangalore has the best rameshwaram idli hahaha. It’s known for the IT sectors and as a developing and growing city. But then again also known for its greenery. It is a huge city but still more natural and green than other metropolitan cities. Bangalore also has a number of ashrams and spiritual places. It’s a good mix of everything.

What apps / websites / stores do you find useful in your daily life in Bangalore?

I mainly use Big Basket for ordering my food, or swiggy if I am too lazy to cook. For transportation I use Ola or Rapido. I use Booking.com for any rooms or hotels. Airtel or Jio to get a sim card. If I want to shop online, I use Myntra. Amazon can be useful as well. Bangalore has nice organic stores, the Organic World. I love South Indian Wallah restaurants, they’re cheap but tasty and clean: A2b, Rameshwaram Cafe…

What are your favorite places in India?

My favorite state in India is Rajasthan. I’m so in awe of that region, especially of the smaller cities, the architecture, culture, energy. Oh gooddd! My favorite has been Jodhpur so far. I also love the backwaters of Kerala.

What is the most recent thing you've read in the news about life in India?

I think the major recent news I have heard and read was about the satellite on the moon. Other than that I have read a lot of small news on Instagram: Some of the incidents about abuse, women’s rights, but also sports wins and political posts.

What do you think about young Indians? How are they similar or different to older generations?

I think you can never generalize who “indians” are. There is like a whole continent of diversity inside this same country. I think generally young indians are less independent, they are more family bound. But often they are also completely taken up by studies and obligations. I have observed less freedom in their choice of future. There is a vast group which seems less aware and self-thinking, who do what they have to and then time passes, but of course there are also big dreamers and envisioners, hard workers, artists etc as well.

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Bangalore?

I think in India the funny thing is you can survive on 100 euros a month as well as on a lot more. I personally have developed a little bit of an upscale lifestyle, so I need on average 1000 euros per month.

What's your list of favorite Indian dishes and restaurants?

I am very fond of south Indian food. I love keralai sabji with coconut, rice based side dishes like puttu, appam. I am a big fan of idli, dosa etc. But of course I will always be a daal lover.

Final Thoughts

Can you tell us something else about India that we might not know?

I think that India is underestimated in so many ways. Usually there are a lot of prejudices towards this crazily beautiful and diverse country. The culture and its variety are a huge puzzle of everything. There is basically nothing you can not find or do in India. I want people to understand that when you speak of India, you can never really speak of India as a whole. You can find everything here, so you shouldn’t generalize.

Are there any experiences there that you are particularly proud of or that surprised you?

To be honest the number of mesmerizing experiences I have collected over the years is not even countable or expressible. I am proud that I have navigated through completely different lifestyles, scenes and geographies in India. I have gone from Ashram to modeling, to Bollywood to health industries. I have had experiences, been in situations which wouldn’t even be believable.

Was it easy making friends and meeting people; did you mainly socialize with other expats?

I barely know any foreigners. I have always mingled with Indians and my friend groups are purely Indian, from different regions and backgrounds.

It’s sometimes difficult to find groups to be comfortable in. You will feel like you don’t belong. I have always found it easier to be with one person than in a group. Finding deep friendships is not the easiest, it happens rarely. My best friend is in Bangalore, but the other really deep bonds I have in my life are more from Austria.

What are some disadvantages to living in Bangalore?

Traffic is a big disadvantage here.

Any advice to immigrate to or work in Bangalore?

It’s quite easy to get the business e visa, student visa or tourist visa. In case you don’t want to travel, you can find any institute or company, it won’t be difficult to get a visa.

What are your plans for the future?

I am currently launching a company in India. I am on a business visa and I have plans to build it up. I also study for my doctorate in acupuncture, and I have a lot of work in Austria as well, so I try to balance it all.

Thank you so much Alena for sharing your experience living in India! I cannot imagien living here without a bank account, that’s so adventurous haha! You’ve uncovered so many aspects of the culture, it’s really interesting. All the best!