My blog

This blog was initially about my "Erasmus in India" (Exchange program at IIMB, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore). As I’m back in India, this blog currently relates my life as an expat.

For more informative posts about the country and/or my previous travel experiences, check the sidebar. More than 250 posts and two years of blogging! Don't hesitate to comment!

My blog was initially written for my friends and relatives. Few of them read it on a regular basis. What they want is to hear me TALK about my life in India… Me, passionate, almost hysterical... Strangely, my readership is a lot more diverse and large than expected. On one side, many Indians end up on my blog via the “indianblogger” ranking. On the other, many indiafreaks, expatriates and exchange students visit my blog to learn more about the country. This blog also gave me the opportunity to join the Belgian delegation in Bangalore.

One year in India

I have been in India for more than a year (four months in 2005 and the past eight months). Time for some retrospection!

In December 2004, I had to choose my Erasmus (exchange student program) destination. I was quite interested in going to Asia even if I had never heard of any of the Asian universities mentioned on the list. The country definitely prevailed on the brandname. In order to decide on my destination, I sent a few emails to my seniors. I received prompt replies, some positive, some highly negative…

The night preceding the final decision, I dreamt of rats (the rat scene in Orwell’s 1984).

In August 2005, I was on my way to India. I spent four months at IIMB, returned to my country to finish my studies and went back to India in September 2006.

Indians frequently ask me how I like India. First of all, it is an absurd question as India is huge and diverse. Then, no country is good or bad. There are things which I like and others which I dislike.

I had imagined the country to be poorer, dirtier and more dangerous. Positively surprised, everything seemed wonderful. Now, after one year, there are things which I can’t accept anymore.

All in all, I had an incredible time in India and met wonderful people. It was an amazing learning experience including both positive and negative situations. Back in 2004, I would clearly take the same decision… The question is…

…Is it worth prolonging the experience as I still have so much to discover in other parts of the globe?