I am writing my first-ever blog post from a hotel room in Bangalore, having arrived only earlier today ready to start living this new adventure of my life.
Things have moved quite quickly since I applied online for my new job through LinkedIn.com. In fact, little more than 5 weeks have passed which is incredible from my perspective, as someone who has been living off and on in Barcelona, Spain for the past 18 years. In Spain, selection processes typically take ages, and certainly more so if the candidate lives outside the EU and requires residency and work permits.
The efficiency and speed of both Indian businesses and the government are amazing. I applied for my job and literally the next day received an email requesting a phone interview. A few days later I had my first interview, a week later the 2nd phone interview and the next day I was officially invited to Bangalore for a face-to-face interview. 10 days later I was in Bangalore for my 3 days of wonderful dinners, days spent at the office, interviews and meetings with people who would become my new colleagues. Before I left on the 3rd day I had a signed employment contract and was armed with every document I would need for my residency and employment visa. Incredible!
So here I am. Anxiously awaiting to start my new job in the morning, nervously imagining the changes that are in store for me and my day-to-day life, and already missing my daughter who has stayed behind to finish her GCSEs (sophmore year). Basically, I am looking forward to all of the hysterical and wonderful situations I will encounter as this SoCal/Euro girl starts working and living it large in Bangalore. I hope you will follow along as I document the many cultural misunderstandings I’ll be part of, the embarrassing moments I’ll face trying to eat spicy food, and read along as I walk you through the sights, the smells and the sounds of this wonderful country.
XOXO from Bangalore
© Angela Carson, Angela’s Adventures in Bangalore blog and photos, 2011
i am so impressed and excited for you! i can hardly stand it.
have you figured out the time thing? i don’t get the 30 minute off set thingie?
have a GREAT first day at work!!!
Welcome back to the world of Spicy food and spicy living!
Good Luck and will be reading up on your indian adventures
Ry & Montse xoxo
haha, Ryan, I just now noticed you signed the post with Pennycan 🙂 Ahhhh, that was a GREAT AFTERNOON! Big kiss to you and Montse, gonna miss you xo
Wow!! I’ve reached your very first post on this blog!! I don’t think I intended to read so much.. 😐 I just got sucked in! 😀 😀
I love the way you write! Seeing Bangalore from an all new perspective! Great blog! 🙂 🙂 😀 😀
Wow, this is a huge moment!! I think only my mom, daughter (finishing up the school year in Barcelona) and a few mates read my blog so thanks so much for the kind words. I am having so much fun documenting everything!! I have always been in marketing and communication but this is the first time I have really applied my passion for writing to something personal…I think I might have found my “what do I do when I am too old to land a hot job” solution 🙂
Keep up yours too, I will check in from time to time 🙂
Hi Angela,
I am a Bangalorean relocated to Dubai, been here for the last 5 years of my life. I have just gone through your first blog and hope to read further to see my city from an expat ‘s point of view. Good Luck.
Thanks, Bharath! Hope Dubai is treating you well. And yes – please keep reading, I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to think of someone so far away keeping up with Bangalore through my tales and stories 🙂 Thanks, ang
Hi Hi!
I am an indian, living in USA for last three years. I really don’t know how to express my feelings.. I was in bangalore for two years and enjoyed the whole stay… sometimes I thought that I was missing India.. but I feel like I am not gonna miss anymore… whenever I want to see India, I will just visit your blog and read an article.. Thanks for such a great blog.. Expect my comments in all of your posts! Will finish all of them asap. Take care. Majaa Maadi!
Wow, that was soooo sweet 🙂 Glad you are enjoying my blog so much, you just made my day. Funny how I can’t imagine ever living in the US again and you are from here and are feeling the opposite. We balance each other out I guess!! hehe
Exactly 🙂 I am planning to read one post per day so that I could get the feeling of india for a longer time… But the way u have written pulls me to finish them at one shot ;-( anyway I will try my best.. Have a wonderful day!
Sooooo cool, please start from the beginning (as you are I see) as I think it gives a funnier to feel to how I experience India. I started the blog on the 1st day I arrived, it began just to keep friends and family informed so it has random crap about my day for the first couple of months… then it starts to evolve to a more topic-based blog. Anyway, thanks so much and hope you will add your 2 cents from time to time –angela
I bumped into your Cheerleaders post , I don’t remember where and then I read a couple of others and I told myself, “hey, why not go along with Angela’s journey. Should be an exciting one, unlike yours..lol” And here I am starting right from the beginning and since this is about a year ago, I believe you have already settled well in the country. I am tying up myself from reading all your stories in a day. 😀 The way you have gone about embracing a country which is so different from what you are is really commendable. 🙂
That is really so damn sweet, thanks. I’ve had a really rough and strange past 4 or 5 days and that comment really made me smile. I’m actually just finishing up an article about the funniest and strangest emails I’ve received the past year. If you are cool with it, I will add in your nice comment as a favourite “kind words” comment. Let me know if I can use your name?? Thanks! Ange
Awwwww Ange…(Can I call you by that name? If not, do let me know 🙂 ) Hopefully you ‘ll get over this(rough time) much sooner and have a blast.. About using my name……….. Go ahead and add in some nice, sweet lines about me.. I definitely wouldn’t mind some publicity (By some I secretly mean a lot).. 😉
So sorry but I wrote and launched the article too quickly 🙁 Next round 🙂 And yes … please use my name!! Ange, Angie, Angela…. you pick!
LOL.. Also your body/mind clock is still working on EST/CST/PST rather than IST!!!
Yeah, I don’t tend to go to sleep until 4am or by 3 most days 🙁
That’s bad… Trust me, I have no intention of making this a chat section.. Need to keep your blog pretty.. 🙂
Hi Angela!
I am so glad I came across your blog! I have just accepted an exciting opportunity to work in Bangalore for a year and of course I rushed online to read anything I could get my eyes on. I really wanted to read about Bangalore from a woman's perspective and I came across your great blog. I feel very scared and a bit excited but after reading about some of your adventures, I feel more excited than anything. I am sure it will be a rollercoaster ride but that's part of the fun 🙂
I attempted to read all your blog posts in one evening but that’s not possible…even though I just can’t stop and keep on clicking next J. Since I am still playing catch up, I hope all is going well for you and your daughter!
Thanks so much Iliana, I’m sure you will have fun here and make your own adventures. Do feel free to email me if you have any specific questions, I’d be happy to help 🙂