Page 14 - MASALA LITE ISSUE 81 | JUNE 2017

14
14 COVERED

HOME AWAY

FROM

Four young Indians have said goodbye

to their mother country and given

There is a strong urge that resides in many of us. A strong urge to go beyond
Thailand, to explore another city, another country and another continent. The up everything familiar and dear in
fast-paced lifestyle and prestigious schools of the West tempts many to have a
bite of The Big Apple, while increased opportunity and more relaxed lifestyles their quest to seek their fortune in
have attracted many to the East. Thanks to its growing technology sector, many
opportunities and leisurely lifestyle, Thailand has been attracting its own share of the Land of Smiles. Krishna Mawani
expats, many of them Indians from all over the world.
We sit down with four Indian expats under the age of 35 to learn about how talks to them about their challenges
they adapted to the Thai working culture, cultural diff erences and language
barriers — several issues we Bangkokians often overlook. and experiences.

VINOL JOY D’SOUZA, 26
Head of Business Intelligence at Eatigo
Mangalore, Karnataka → Jakarta, Indonesia → Bangkok, Thailand

How did you fi nd your job in Bangkok?
The move to Bangkok was completely unplanned. I came to Bangkok around six
months ago to renew my work visa for Jakarta. I read that TripAdvisor had just fed
Eatigo Series B funding, and I instantly fell for the idea they were executing. I found
their address and walked in to speak to the founders. And guess what? I was asked
to join them! It was a complete coincidence. To all the folks trying to fi nd a job
overseas, keep trying as you never know where help shows up and it usually comes
from the place we least expect.
Do you think the language barrier is an issue?
India is such a diverse country, which is why we can understand the complexity in a
language. A north Indian travelling to Tamil Nadu will have issues of communication
too. I believe as long as you are humane and well-mannered, communication is
rarely an issue. I myself speak fi ve languages and have started to learn Thai from my
colleagues. I am able to manage directions, food and money matters. The hard part
for me is to master the Thai accent. But Mai Pen Rai can get you a long way.
Were there any cultural shocks you experienced?
No, it was more of a welcome change actually! India is mostly a patriarchal society,
but when you are in Thailand you see women running the show, be it as street
vendors, bus drivers or as white-collar professionals. They work hard, party till
late, take care of their families, and return to work the next day. Seeing women
empowered and being safe in their natural habitat is welcoming. The biggest change
I see in myself is how I started being able to accept people with diff erent gender
orientations and feeling ashamed about my previous misconceptions.

What are some new experiences you have had here, which you wouldn’t
otherwise have experienced in India?
The way Thais respect every religion and pray to everyone has astonished me in
every aspect. You’ll see them praying to Buddha, Shiva, Brahma and Ganesha with
MAS AL A LITE ISSUE 8 1 JUNE 2 01 7