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GOING NATIVE

‘I am the tallest’

Photo Neeraja Murthy

It’s fun here Milga Buehlmann

Work brought Milga Buehlmann, senior manager, Human Resources at Deloitte to Hyderabad. Since November 2007, she has been staying at Madhapur and travelling across the city to discover new places. However, Milga’s city tour is not devoid of hullabaloo. And, where ever she goes, she attracts eyeballs and has been even stopped for a photograph.

“I think I am the tallest woman in Hyderabad,” gushes Milga. At 5 ft 10 1/2inches, Milga is quite tall and the lady takes pride in her height too. “While walking, people stop and stare. Some even want to take a snap with me. It’s cool,” she says in her typical American tone. But what has not been cool is finding her size clothes in the city. “The tunics here are not broad enough to fit me. Shopping is quite an effort,” she says.

Her reflections of the city are different and has filled her with some ‘interesting’ and ‘frustrating’ feelings. “There are little things which can be very annoying sometimes. The regular power cuts were irksome. There is a lot of paper work to be done while taking an internet connection or getting a new mobile. One needs to sign documents and the signature has to be same on all the papers. Getting a service is so tough here,” she says. Finding food for her two cats or spotting a park to continue her jogging has been hard but nevertheless she enjoys her stay here.

Milga takes cultural awareness classes for colleagues going to the US to clear a few misconceptions about America. “People think Americans are not family-oriented and are too violent by nature which is not true. I think there is more violence in India than in America. Everyday one gets to read about murders done for petty reasons. Another popular notion is that family bond is missing. Teenagers are independent and live separately away from their parents. Parents do support their children when it is needed,” she asserts.

Milga joins the list of people, who swear by Shahrukh’s dimpled grin and chutzpah. “I watched Om Shanti Om with friends at PVR Cinema and the experience was quite hilarious. When the audience was laughing at the jokes, we sat grim faced and when we found things funny, people had a serious look on their faces.”

Though Indian food gets her eyes watering and mouth steaming, she loves the rotis and subjis her cook from Vizag prepares. The cook also transforms into a Hindi tutor teaching her the language. Next time, Milga veers her way through Hyderabad’s chaotic traffic and comes across someone blocking her way, she has her Hindi words ready: “Bewakuf, gadha and… the third word is not for print,” she laughs off.

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