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Why expats love India posting

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INDIA, FOR many, is still a land of poor roads, potholes, foul air, tortuous traffic and whimsical power supply. But surprise, surprise! Most of those growing numbers of expatriates coming to India to work, love it here. Some go so far as to say...

Published: Thu 4 Oct 2007, 9:53 PM

Updated: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 12:42 AM

expait's the ideal place to work and literally live life king size.

Renee Kuwahara of Florida came to Bangalore in May 2006 as COO of 24/7 Customer. She finds everything "amazingly" priced in India - "everything from vegetables to vanity bags, clothes to carpets and peanuts to pearls". "I also have a maid and a chauffeur. I could not have afforded them back in the US."

An Australian woman in a BPO firm in Gurgaon echoes: "No doubt an India posting is desirable on one's CV. But many of us also probably enjoy the best of India in terms of lifestyle, eating out, shopping, entertainment and support systems."

A chauffeur, domestic help and gardener are ultra-luxury elements in most developed countries, even for the expat community. But these come as thrown-in perks for many of them in India. Living spaces are also emerging that can be compared to the best the world has to offer. Palm Meadows in Whitefield, widely recognised as international class, has expats occupying a majority of its 500-odd villas.

In smaller towns, things are even better. Russel Smith is chairman of SDD Global Solutions, a legal KPO firm based in Mysore. Smith thinks there is no place like India when it comes to quality food at unbelievable prices.

"I eat out almost every day. A visiting friend of mine insisted that she would treat me to lunch. And all it cost for a lavish meal for two was Rs130, barely $3. My friend was in disbelief," Smith says, and adds, "What's more, I have a maid to run my house and a chauffeur to drive me to Bangalore and back. Having such support systems in Manhattan would have been a really expensive proposition."



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