Of Dreams & Degrees

A DAY IN THEIR LIFE

For most students abroad,the daily routine is college,assignments,work,chilling out with friends. Shreyas Nambiar,a student of Bachelors in Management at West London College,UK,says,“I landed in London on July 24,2010,form Vapi. For one year,scouting for jobs was a major part of my routine.” He got lucky in July 2011 and has been working at a hotel in Central London ever since. Sreshth Shah from Kolkata is now an undergrad student at the College of Wooster,Ohio,US. He says,“After class,I attend club meetings and sports team practices (cricket and table tennis).”

PRICE TAG OF A DREAM

“Living in the UK is very,very expensive,” says Shreyas,”I was lucky that my father sent me money. But even now,with a job,there is no room for fund.” His course fee is Rs 10 lakh annually while monthly expenditure amounts to Rs 45,000 – Rs 50,000. Tara took a part loan to fun her studies,while Khushi’s parents paid her course fee of 24,000 AUD. All share the common desire of working abroad post their courses,at least for some years,either for experience or to get returns on their education investment.

FRIENDLY BANTER

The ‘friends groups’ invariably comprise students from all nationalities. Tara says,“There were people from everywhere. From sharing common music and movie interests,we graduated to a stronger bond.” Khushi Chauhan,who completed her Masters in Teaching from Griffith University,Gold Coast,Australia,has Spanish,Chinese,Korean,Arab and German friends. Their conversations are as varied as their cultures. “We talk about a lot of things – how hot it is,how lazy some of the Australians are!” quips the spunky lass from Chandigarh. Sreshth smiles as he says,“In the beginning,my friends would ask: ‘Are there elephants everywhere?’ ‘Do people ride camels on the roads?’”

QUESTION OF RACE

Aniket Trivedi (20),who first went to high school in UK and is now doing his majors in Economics in the US,says,“The instances I have encountered are not racist but perhaps more to do with ignorance. For example,a friend is part of a fraternity and one of his frat brothers asked me where I was from. I said India,and then he said ‘Oh,is that where they are building underwater restaurants and fake ski slopes.’ Others will tell you that they think Dubai is India,” he sighs. Arunima Kapoor,who did her BBA-Finance and Management plus minor in Communications from NUS in Singapore and passed out this year,says her experience with racism has perhaps just been in the range of folks being wary of Indian food as it smelt of Indian spices”.

Everyday Challenge?

Sreshth points to the time difference – the nights of staying awake to talk to family and friends back home. Others say that security is a concern. “Recently there have been muggings around campus so we have to be aware during the night and on weekends,” adds Aniket. One has to take precautions,points out Tara. “I would never venture out alone at night in Perth. If I had to,I would ask a friend to accompany me,stick to well-lit areas,” she says.