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GOING NATIVE

India is a mixed bag

PHOTO: SEEMA SANGHI

A SENSE OF HOME For Talia Hoskin

The key word to describe India, and Chennai, for Talia Hoskin, an Australian living and working here, is ‘different.’ Everything is different – the traffic, the food, the clothing, cultural practices, the relationship between the sexes and within families, the list is never-ending. And it is all these aspects of life that she enjoys learning about and experiencing.

With a Masters in Public Health and Bachelor degrees in Health and Social Science, India is a prime location for her to gain international work experience. “I learn a lot from working here, not just about Indian culture, but also about the health system,” Talia says. She spends her time meeting various health directors and teachers, who are “very passionate” about their work.

Before coming to India, Talia worked in Adelaide on the Quit Smoking campaign, which aims at helping 15 to 25-year-olds not smoke as well as assisting others to stop smoking. Talia trained youth workers in preventative techniques. Talia feels that good work is being done in Chennai as well. “There are lots of good NGOs here and health education is increasing,” she says.

Chennai is now a hot destination for her family with her parents returning to India after visiting it 30 years ago. Her mother is fascinated by everything in Chennai and writes down all the interesting things she sees.

Talia lives here with her partner and they both enjoy the many things the city has to offer. She goes to the gym, learns various styles of dance and her partner plays hockey. They both enjoy going to Marina beach even though people sometimes like to take their photos.

“It doesn’t bother me too much, its their way of welcoming us into the country I think,” Talia laughs. She goes on to explain that a month after someone photographed them on the Marina, the same person saw them on a bus and showed them the picture on his phone. “This time, I took a picture of him as well,” she says, feeling that Chennai is a small world after all.

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