ABOUT
S is from Germany and a Paramedic and Physiotherapist by profession.
She speaks German, English, French and Hindi. She is trying to learn Punjabi and Danish right now.
Moving to New Delhi
When and why did you move to New Delhi, India?
I moved to New Delhi in November 2018. Before that I used to live in Thailand where I wanted to become a diving instructor. One beautiful, special evening on an island in Thailand, I met my now-husband who was on vacation with his friends. A couple of months later I moved to India to be with him.
How did you get set up?
In India it is very easy and cheap to get a SIM card. The Internet is great in New Delhi. Almost everywhere you will get a good connection.
In the beginning I paid with my German credit card, before I opened my Indian bank account.
Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance?
No, it was very easy and I used a normal travel insurance for India. Since I got married I am insured with my husband.
But this is more for surgeries etc. „Normal“ doctor visits and medicine are usually paid in cash here.
What did you bring with you?
I had two suitcases with me with my favourite clothes and gifts from my family and friends.
How did you find an apartment in New Delhi?
From the beginning I was staying with my husband and his family. We live in a big, vibrant house with his parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, cousins and one dog.
What surprised you about life there?
I didn’t have any expectations. For me it was always important to live here with an open mind and take things how they are. That’s why there were not too many surprises.
But what I was most happy about was that everyone in my husband’s family and his friends welcomed me with an open heart and full of love. Since the first moment they made me feel like I am part of their life and won’t let me go again. 😉
Living in New Delhi
What should people consider before deciding to move to New Delhi now?
People should consider if they can live in these harsh weather conditions. 9 months a year it is extremely hot in New Delhi, some weeks it is almost 50 degrees. Winters are cold and since there is mostly no central heating it feels even colder.
And it will take a while to settle. India is not an easy country to move to, compared to any European country for example, since the cultures are so different.
Do you need to speak Hindi to live in New Delhi?
I recommend learning Hindi. Of course, most of the people speak English very well. But then you will always be seen as a tourist. The moment I started speaking in Hindi my life got much much easier!
What specifically is New Delhi famous for?
New Delhi is famous for its food and especially the street food is fantastic.
Further you will always find a wonderful mix of everything that life can offer: historical buildings, temples, museums, bars and clubs, shopping malls, parks, markets – you name it.
What apps do you find useful in your daily life in New Delhi?
I am using the following apps:
– Blinkit and BigBasket for grocery shopping
– payTM for payments
– Nykaa to buy cosmetics
– GoogleMaps for finding the way in this big city
– AirVisual to check the air-quality
– GoogleTranslate, in case a Hindi word is missing in my mind
– Blinkit and BigBasket for grocery shopping
– payTM for payments
– Nykaa to buy cosmetics
– GoogleMaps for finding the way in this big city
– AirVisual to check the air-quality
– GoogleTranslate, in case a Hindi word is missing in my mind
How does pollution affect your life (if it does), is pollution getting better in New Delhi?
When I moved here in 2018, the air quality was not that great. In Summers it was still ok. But in Winters (mostly November and December) it affected us in a way that we didn’t go out for runs and tried to stay indoors close to the air purifier.
But after Corona and the lockdown, changes happened and the government did a lot to improve the situation. Now we are hoping that it carries on like this and that it gets better and better every year.
What are your favorite places in India?
My favourite places are New Delhi and the coast line of South India. But also the Himalayas, Rajasthan, Goa and Mumbai are wonderful. I haven’t been to a place in India that I didn’t like.
What are the main differences between living in Germany and in India?
Where to begin… Almost everything is different.
– Living situation: A lot of people in India live in joint families. In Germany it is mostly just the couple alone (and their kids).
– Lifestyle: Even in a big city like New Delhi, life feels relaxed if you go with the flow. Shops open late and close late. You want to go for a late dinner? Not a problem. If you want to stay at home, you can order food around the clock. In Germany shops close early and on Sunday everything is shut down.
– Streets: Everyone thinks the traffic in India is chaotic. Yeah, you will find scooters, cars, trucks, Rickshaws, buses, bicycles and various animals on the roads. And the honking is never ending. All my voice messages have this as a constant background noise. But still everything works and I truly enjoy driving here. In Germany people follow the rules more and everything is in order.
Food: Indian food is mostly spicy. German food is not.
– Living situation: A lot of people in India live in joint families. In Germany it is mostly just the couple alone (and their kids).
– Lifestyle: Even in a big city like New Delhi, life feels relaxed if you go with the flow. Shops open late and close late. You want to go for a late dinner? Not a problem. If you want to stay at home, you can order food around the clock. In Germany shops close early and on Sunday everything is shut down.
– Streets: Everyone thinks the traffic in India is chaotic. Yeah, you will find scooters, cars, trucks, Rickshaws, buses, bicycles and various animals on the roads. And the honking is never ending. All my voice messages have this as a constant background noise. But still everything works and I truly enjoy driving here. In Germany people follow the rules more and everything is in order.
Food: Indian food is mostly spicy. German food is not.
Final Thoughts
What do you think about young Indians?
Some young Indians are traditional, others are very modern. That truly depends on the person itself. In general I can say they are hard working, loving and open.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in New Delhi?
That depends on which area you want to live in, where you want to go out or shop etc. In New Delhi you can get everything in any price range.
Do you feel safe as a woman?
I feel as safe as in any other big city in this world. As a woman, unfortunately, you always have to be careful. I would not drive alone or use the metro at night. But it also depends on which area you live in.
What's your list of favorite North Indian dishes and restaurants in New Delhi?
If you are a vegetarian, you should try palak paneer (spinach with cottage cheese). If you are a non-vegetarian, Butter Chicken with Garlic Naan would be heaven for you.
The street food I really enjoy is Golgappe, which you can find at any corner.
If we go out, we hardly eat Indian food with our friends. We go for Thai, Chinese or European food. My favourite restaurants are Mamagoto, Miss Nora, Cafe Delhi Heights and Smokehouse Deli.
If we go out, we hardly eat Indian food with our friends. We go for Thai, Chinese or European food. My favourite restaurants are Mamagoto, Miss Nora, Cafe Delhi Heights and Smokehouse Deli.
Can you tell us something else about India that we might not know?
India is everything what you think it is: It is loud, it is colorful, there are cows on the roads, there is poverty, and a lot of traffic.
PLUS: There is so much more. It has the most beautiful beaches in South India, snowcapped mountains in the Himalayas, big metropolitan cities, deserts, forts, wildlife, beautiful hotels, etc.
PLUS: There is so much more. It has the most beautiful beaches in South India, snowcapped mountains in the Himalayas, big metropolitan cities, deserts, forts, wildlife, beautiful hotels, etc.
What are some local artists that you recommend checking out?
Check out Leaoethicalwear. Their clothes are handcrafted from traditional Indian sarees. The material is beautiful, sustainable and natural.
What do you know about Indian music?
I enjoy listening to Hindi and Punjabi music because of their energetic beats. My favourite singers are for example Diljit Dosanjh, Juggy D, Jasmine Sandlas and AP Dhillon.
Are there any experiences there that you are particularly proud of?
I am so happy that I am able to adjust to this different culture, the food and the habits and traditions of Indian people. And I am proud of my Hindi and any little conversation I can have with locals.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people?
In the beginning I attended a „Women of the world“ dinner where I met lovely women – expats and Indians. With some of them I am still friends. But overall you really have to make an effort to meet people and stay in contact.
It was a little bit tricky, because I could not make friends at work since I was not allowed to work in India with my kind of visa. And with all the lockdowns and Corona it did not get better.
Now I have finally met another German woman who lives close to me and brought so much fun into my life. It’s great to have Indian friends and I love their mentality. But it also became super important to me to exchange daily life experiences with another German who knows so much about this country too.
Now I have finally met another German woman who lives close to me and brought so much fun into my life. It’s great to have Indian friends and I love their mentality. But it also became super important to me to exchange daily life experiences with another German who knows so much about this country too.
What are some disadvantages to living in New Delhi?
Although I don’t mind it, I guess for a lot of people it is the extreme weather and the heat.
Another disadvantage is the large distances in the city. Of course it depends where you live, but in my case I have to drive for 20-30 minutes before I reach a park if I want to go for a run.
And in the beginning I could not stand the staring of the Indians and that people wanted to click selfies with me all the time. Now I have trained myself to ignore it.
Any advice to immigrate to or work in New Delhi?
You need a work or business visa to work in India. As far as I know it is not easy to get.
Unfortunately I don’t know much about it since I came first with a Tourist Visa which got changed to a Spouse Visa.
After two years of marriage I applied for the OCI (Oversea Citizen of India) Card which allows you also to work in India.
What are your plans for the future?
My wish is to improve my Hindi even more and be able to understand and talk a little bit in Punjabi.
Otherwise I just want to stay as happy as we are right now and do more and more road trips and adventures in India.
Thank you S for sharing your experience living in New Delhi with us! It’s cool to see that you have made so much effort to really learn and immerse yourself in Indian culture(s)! I wish you a successful Hindi acquisition haha. All the best!
