Could you tell us a little bit about what you do for a living and describe your experience of living and working in India, this far? How is it similar and/or different from the other places that you have lived and worked in?
My career in New York City was always driven by my passion for the aesthetics—interior design, antiques, food and fashion—mixed in with just enough PR and branding experience. Here in India, I am working for Sarita Handa Retail as Head of Creative and Business Development. The job entails working on the creatives for the advertorials, merchandising, sourcing new products and developing brand collaboration.
The interior design and luxury furniture/soft-goods market is a relatively new and thriving one in India. It's exciting to see how home decor magazines are setting the pace here.
It's sometimes hard just to find the simple things without having to involve several heads. Sometimes, to find one small item, I have to go different stores or locations in New Delhi. I find it very hard to understand the inability of many to say either No or to inform us that they don't understand something. We would save a lot time if they could just learn to ask for help versus saying something is complete, when it hasn't even been started.
What are the biggest challenges you have faced as a woman living and working in India? Was it easy to settle in? Has safety ever been a concern? Are there things that you found particularly peculiar?
I am fortunate to work for a company founded and run by an amazing woman. So settling into my work force has been an easy transition. Though, as a woman from the West I have to pinch myself often not to be bothered by men deferring to other men for authority, when I have said the same thing.
I have not felt unsafe, but I am cautious and always alert when travelling alone or late at night, regardless of where I am. I also know how to direct a taxi /driver to my home. Often they have no clue so it's important to know one's route and surroundings.
What are the things that you love and hate about the city you live in? What have been your best and worst experiences there? Are there things that you would like to change?
I live in Gurgaon and work between Gurgaon, New Delhi and Mumbai. For a new developing city, I find Gurgaon to be unbelievably unplanned; I have a terribly hard time with all of the constant dust, due to the new construction. Luckily, I can easily go to Delhi where there is more greenery; I frequently visit Mumbai where the sea air rules!
Do you feel like an outsider or has the city started to feel like home? Can you tell us a little bit about the place you are originally from? What do you miss most about your home?
I don't feel like an outsider, but I rarely feel that, in whichever part of the world I am in. I have been living in New York City for over twenty years (with intermittent work in other countries or cities, a few months at a time). New York boasts a huge international base, is cosmopolitan and culturally active. It is a city that never ever stops! Gurgaon is my home base while living and working in India, which ticks at a much slower pace, though that's not a bad thing. What I miss the most are two things—the ability to just leave my apartment and go for an outdoor jog or long walk and the immediate access to walk to have a great dinner and an amazing glass of wine (especially the latter). This is seemingly harder to do in Gurgaon, but luckily easy when I am in Mumbai.
What are your other experiences in India?
Regardless of the minor frustrations or things that I would like to see changed, I made my choice to live and work in India. The more one surrenders to what they know from the west, miraculously, the more life opens up here.
Here's what others expats has to say:
Yeh hai Mumbai Meri Jaan http://dnai.in/cBiG
Travel can be a nightmare http://dnai.in/cBiF
It's easier for Asians who live here http://dnai.in/cBiC
The horns drive me bonkers http://dnai.in/cBiB
Shopping can be a challenge http://dnai.in/cBiB
Being European offers interesting advantages http://dnai.in/cDpF
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