From Berlin Classrooms to Bangalore Streets: Where’s Robert Now?
We sat down with Robert for a quick chat during his recent visit to Berlin. Many of you probably know him from his classes at Transmitter. For the past year, he’s been living and teaching in Bangalore, India—a city full of contrasts, vibrant cultures, and rapid change. While he was here for a short vacation, we asked him about his life in India, the differences in teaching, and what he misses most about home. Here’s what he had to share with us.
Transmitter: This is your second time in Bangalore. What makes the place so exciting for you?
Robert: Bangalore is a very big and densely populated city in the South Indian state of Karnataka. Over the past two decades, the population has changed a lot because many people from other parts of India have moved here. Bangalore is called the Tech Hub of India because many IT companies are located here. So, you find many well-paid tech professionals, but also many young people from poorer regions in the Northeast like Manipur or Assam, who come here to work as waiters or in construction and hope for a better income. There are sometimes tensions between the local population and the migrants, especially around language. The city is full of contrasts.
Transmitter: What do you enjoy most about being there?
Robert: I really enjoy living on the campus of Christ University and Christ School. It’s a big, green oasis, surrounded by a noisy and crowded neighborhood.
During the day, you see students and lecturers roaming around, and also many priests in their long white robes. In their freetime, one can see students doing improvisation plays or dancing. In the evening, the campus becomes peaceful.
Transmitter: Which cultural differences have fascinated you the most?
Robert: There are many, but I think the role of faith and spirituality is something that really impressed me. Religion plays a much bigger role in everyday life than in Germany. Some of my Catholic students don’t just go to church on Sundays—they attend mass every day.
Then there are so many Hindu festivals—almost every week there’s something going on—and countless temples. You also find Sikh gurdwaras, Jain temples, and many mosques. Bangalore has a large Muslim community, and even if it’s not always perfect, the peaceful coexistence of religions works quite well.
Transmitter: You’re mainly teaching Indian high school students in Bangalore. Is your approach different from how you taught at Transmitter?
Robert: Yes, definitely. My students here at the Junior College—or Pre-University, as it is also called—are mostly minors, some are just 15 years old. That’s a big difference to my students at Transmitter, who were all adults. So the topics in class are much more connected to youth culture—what interests teenagers in India and Germany, how they use social media, Jugendsprache, and things like that. Another difference is that I also talk to their parents about things like attendance, exams, or study options in Germany.
I also established a cooperation with a company that operates nursing homes across Northern Germany. After reaching German level B1, our students have the opportunity to move to Germany and begin a three-year vocational training program to become qualified nurses.
Transmitter: Is there anything you miss while you’re in India?
Robert: Quite a few things. Clean air, proper sidewalks where you don’t have to worry about falling into a hole, safer traffic. And most of all, a social network.
It’s not so easy to make friends here as a foreigner. People are very family-oriented and have less free time, and friendships with foreigners are not something many people are looking for. That’s different from other places where I’ve lived—like in China—where I found it easier to connect and make local friends. The fast development of Bangalore has its downside. A few decades ago, Bangalore was known as the greenest city of India, with many parks, forests, and lakes. Aerial photos and the stories of older residents gave me an idea how much of this green charm is now gone.
Transmitter: What are your plans for the future?
Robert: After spending a total of two years in India, I feel like it will soon be time to go back to Germany—at least for a longer while. What happens after that is still completely open. Maybe I’ll continue teaching, or something entirely different might cross my path. I will most likely not become an investment banker. Right now, the future feels wide open and unknown.
Transmitter: Thank you, Robert, for giving us these insights and stories! We wish you lots of fun and memorable experiences during the rest of your time in India. See you again soon!
