by Mrigasira » Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:52 am
Hi Mike,
Wanting to understand and experience another culture is a great idea . I believe that it helps you grow as a person and expands your horizon. And Hyderabad, at this point of time, is the best place to be in among Indian cities. And yes, you are right - the cost of living in Hyderabad is relatively lower than the other places in India.
What can you do? You have multiple options. Despite the fact that India is on an upswing, a lot of people still want to go to the US. And so, yes, exams such as TOEFL, GRE and GMAT are still in vogue. And there are training institutes for such examinations. Since you are already experienced in the field and since you are a native speaker of the language getting a job in such a training institute is not likely to be difficult.
The second option I can think of is the BPO industry. As you very well know the BPO field is the fastest growing in this country. A lot of people are employed in this industry and the main issue with most of them is communication skills, especially conversing in an American accent. There are independent training institutes that could work with to advance people's communication skills. The BPOs themselves could definitely use your expertise in order to train their own employees.
If language is not what you want to work with, but are interested in the IT field, oh well, what do you know - as someone rightly pointed out, there is an IT industry for almost every 5 streets in this country. So, of course, that is an option that can always be looked into.
As with any other country, India has its share of problems too, which seem amplified due to the fact that the population is really huge here. But it has its own share of positives that will make your stay here a rewarding experience. People are warm, open and friendly, maybe a bit too informal for one's liking - essentially, you will be welcomed and accepted with open hearts. Cuisine is diverse and if you are a foodie, you are sure to enjoy it. And as you rightly pointed out, Indian cinema (including Tollywood), that is gonna be an experience in itself.
Bangalore has greater advantages in terms of IT growth itself. But I would still recommend Hyderabad because I do think it is a better place to live in, except during the summer months.
All the best making a decision!