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Kiana Armani, Zahra Mousavi and
Soheil Sanaei |
A young Ethiopian looks despondent sitting in a compound surrounded by trees. He smiles weakly and says, “My name is Surafel Shimelas, I am 23.” It turns out he is only a few days old in Pune. He adds, “I am already missing my family.”
Surafel hopes to get admission into a good college and seems positive he will get used to the city with time. This Ethiopian, like many others makes up a bulk of foreign students who come to study in Pune every year.
Initially, the food, weather and language can pose a problem, but they adjust quickly, often forming bonds with other students from their own countries.
Most eventually head back home after receiving their degrees, while some are charmed by the city to stay back. Here, they chase new dreams and goals.
Meet Hyun Je Sung, a 23-year-old South Korean who’s been studying in Pune since 2003. “I have made many friends in Pune and feel more comfortable here than in my own country,” says Sung.
He chose to leave home because he was fed up of the competition fueled by the country’s drive to surge ahead economically. “Everything is so expensive in South Korea and you have to struggle very hard to succeed.
The schools there lack imagination. To fit into the scheme of things, you have to take up subjects you don’t want to study,” says Sung. His friends Min Gyu Oh, Tae won Jin, Yunan Lee, Sang Hyun Lee and Seol A Lee all shake their heads in agreement to what Sung says.
| Pics: Nikhil Ghorpade & Rajesh Nirgude |
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| Hyun Je Sung, Min Gyu Oh, Tae won Jin, Yunan Lee and Sang Hyun Lee |
For Jin, being in Pune gives him a great opportunity to learn English, “In South Korea you only speak in Korean,” says Jin. The shy Yunan finally speaks, she says, “I changed colleges because I realised I was paying exorbitant tuition fees at the institute I was studying in earlier.”
From Afghanistan, Ahmad Ghani and Adeel Ebadi are practically in love with Pune. “We blend in easily because our Hindi is in place and I guess it helps that we look Indian too,” smiles Ahmad. He adds, “We are very happy here.” Ahmad came to Pune two years ago to pursue music, but also decided he needed a degree. Adeel says, “Life is much better in Pune.
From the bikes, lifestyle to people — I feel at home.” The only problem for the boys, turns out to be food, they both nod their heads in unison and say, “The spices are too strong. We are not used to such flavors.” Kiana Armani, Zahra Mousavi and Soheil Sanaei are from Iran. The three met at an English speaking class and bonded immediately.
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| Ahmad Ghani and Adeel Ebadi |
The eldest, Kiana, has been in the city for two years now. Soheil moved to Pune a year ago and Zahra landed in the city last month. “I came here to learn English and also to brush up my soft skills,” says Kiana. Zahra gushes about the people and weather in Pune, “I feel safe and secure. It is a relief people here don’t judge you or look at you differently because you are a woman.” She is also impressed by the greenery in Pune.
However, despite the good times, adjusting to a new culture can get difficult. “I still don’t understand why we have to pay money to get official work done in government offices.
These people don’t accept anything less than Rs 500,” complains Sung. “Renting or buying a place is such a tough job. People tell us on our faces that they don’t rent their flats to Iranians,” says Kiana.
Soheil who is studying at BMCC feels the college has been supportive to many of his classmates too, “I am not saying everyone is the same, but the situation can get really tough at times,” says Soheil. On a lighter note, like the Afghans, the Iranians too have a problem with spicy food.
“The biryani is nothing close to what we make back home,” says Kiana. The Ethiopians look tired and disoriented. A group of three, they are in the process of getting admissions into colleges.
“It’s not been easy so far. I have been told my university degree in Ethiopia is not recognised. I had completed three years studying architecture in my country, but it seems I will have to study the complete duration of the course in Pune,” says Yishak Takla.
They are fortunate to have seniors to help them out. The three Ethiopians look hopeful. “It has only been a few days now, let’s see what happens next,” says Surafel.
When it comes to recreational activities and socialising, the South Koreans are sorted in many ways. There are two Korean churches in the city. “Even non Christians go to these churches to meet their fellow countrymen, get acquainted and make friends,” says Sung.
Besides, everybody seems to know one another quite well and parties with friends and relatives keep them going. The three Iranians like to visit areas like Chandani Chowk and Koregaon Park and love feasting on butter chicken and pani puri once in a while. As for the two Afghans, they are living it up.
Only the Ethiopians have no clue what Pune has in store for them. Sung says the good things about the city far outweigh the problems they face. For Sung, getting an education is a plus point. He can also manage to sustain a good standard of living and the list goes on.
But eventually, once he is done with his studies, will he pack his bags and head home? “I can stay back and work if I want to or maybe I can start a business,” says Sung. His answer says it all, Pune is no foreign land to Sung — it has become his second home.
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04:23:28 PM