
Noah Buhmann from Germany opens up about how his first trip to India has got him new friends and a chance to learn Hindi
Noah Buhmann’s tryst with Pune began nine months ago. A citizen of Haale in Germany,he is a volunteer with the Center for Youth Development Programme (CYDA),a project in which youngsters from developed nations are sent to developing countries. CYDAs Youth Programme is a platform for the youth to raise their concerns and aims at uplifting the future potential of the country, elaborates Noah. Ive worked for the cause of homeless people as a part of the programme and have also attended many meets regarding the potential dangers of nuclear energy recently, he adds.
For Noah,language has not been a big issue either. Pune is linguistically a diverse place,but it can be a challenge still for somebody who has just English as his communicative tool. But Noah has taken it all in his stride. Ive almost never faced any language concern. Majority of the people around me speak English. So,communication has not been a problem, he says. To have a better understanding of the Indian culture,Noah is also learning Hindi and is attending Hindi classes regularly. If you know the local language,you can have a deeper understanding of the surroundings. English enables you to mix with only a certain section of the society. It has a very limited reach, says Noah.
So,would he like to come back to India? The reply is quick. Yes,Obviously! he laughs. I’m planning to take up Anthropology as a course and,if possible,I would love to study and travel in India as a part of the syllabus.