
8220;We like Daler Mehndi8217;s music very much,8221; say Karla Elizabeth Choto, 26, and Ornaldo Cisneros, 22, both El Salvadorians who arrived in Pune last July. And so in love with the city are they that they are already talking about how they will miss its spicy food once they return to their land.
Students of the Central American University and the University of El Salvador respectively, Karla and Ornaldo are here on a scholarship to do a computer course at Aptech.
8220;The people in Pune are very warm, helpful and friendly but we think that the older people are more forthcoming than the younger ones,8221; say the duo. And adapting to the city was easy considering not just the friendly people but also the favourable climate, no different from the climate in El Salvador.
Like most visitors to the city, they have bought their share of ethnic antique accessories, something they find fascinating. Ornaldo proudly showed off the Om8217; he bought from a store on M.G. Road.
Shopping apart, visiting popular hang-outs like Zamu8217;s, Black Cadillac, Crystal Ball and 10 Downing Street have been part of their Pune experience. And talking about food, they list masala dosa, chappati, matar paneer, chicken fry and what have you as hot8217; favourites. 8220;Central American cuisine is not spicy, but over the months, we8217;ve begun loving the spicy Indian food.8221;
Coming back to music, they say, 8220;Daler Mehndi is our favourite Indian singer, we like his kind of music.8221; Ask them their favourite Hindi number and pat comes the answer, Aati kya Khandala?. Well8230; aur kya?