Indians are rather cold

That's what foreign students studying in the city feel, adding that Indians rarely socialise with them, discovers Debarati Palit

That's what foreign students studying in the city feel, adding thatu00a0Indians rarely socialise with them, discovers Debarati Palit

Over 40 per cent of the student population in the city comprises foreigners from 74 countries, including Sudan, Iran, UK, USA, China, Korea and Saudi Arabia.

MiD DAY met many such students only to find that they feel Punekars tend to keep them at an arm's distance.

Dorcas Okindoh, an African student who is pursuing a BBA programme at Spicer College, said, "Indians are not very welcoming. I am more comfortable in the company of other foreign students."

Studied Distance? Foreign students from theu00a0 MBA programme at Spicer College interact with each other between classes.

No invitation

MBA student Mohoza Eugene from Rwanda says while Indian students did interact with students like him on the campus, they did not invite them home.

"I find this behaviour weird. More so, because I would love to know more about the culture in the homes here. However, I am not invited, so there is nothing I can do about it," said Eugene.

Religious prejudice

Ani, a resident of Shiraz, Iran, who is studying Physics at Pune University, feels lay Indians tend to club all Muslim foreigners with Pakistanis.
u00a0
"We do not blame anyone. They have a certain mindset about Muslim countries. People here do not even know the difference between the cultures of Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan.

This makes us suspect in their eyes and it is not just students but landlords and even rikshaw walas who harbour such prejudices," said Ani.

Stick to one's own

Sreynech Sambath, a student from China prefers to mingle with fellow Chinese students. "That way, I can speak in my language and have food we like. This helps us connect at a deeper level."

A Cambodian student at Spicer College admitted that his initial days were difficult, but said in his case, things have improved.
u00a0
"Apart from the language barrier, we dress differently and are more open minded about a lot of things.

Pople were very cold in the beginning. However, I have lived here for over a year now, and I have made some good Indian friends," he said.