First mobility to NSB Bangalore: how to live and study in India without cultural shock
Polina Pavlyuchenok, a first-year master's student of the “Strategic Management: Investment and Consulting” Master program, was the first one to take the leap and go to NSB Bangalore on academic mobility. Exchange studies in India became not just a real challenge for her, but also a major milestone in life. In this article, she talks about how to study, survive, adapt and enjoy life in Bangalore.
Hi everyone! My name is Polina, and I was the first student from HSE to go on an exchange to NSB in India. Before that, I had never participated in any exchanges, never been to India, and hadn’t really been into it either. But I decided it was time to try something new — for the sake of experience, people, and impressions. And I don’t regret it for a second. In this text, I’ve put together useful information to help you adapt more easily if you decide to take the same trip. It’s sort of my personal cheat sheet to help reduce culture shock and make everyday life easier. If you still have questions, feel free to message me on Telegram @poly_pavl.
Before going to Bangalore, I recommend joining chats with Russian-speaking residents. In this chat, you can ask any question, and in another there are saved lists of tips, trusted places, and contacts.
Studying: How It Works
The academic process differs a lot from what we’re used to. For example, in class it’s not allowed to use laptops — only with special permission from the professor — and phones are strictly forbidden, to the point where they might be taken away if seen. All notes are taken by hand, and by the way, you won’t find grid notebooks here, so better bring some or buy unruled ones locally. Many written assignments are done on plain A4 sheets. They can be handwritten or typed, but the volume is always considerable — at least several pages.
Presentations work differently too. Long presentations with detailed breakdowns are appreciated, and even if you say it’ll be 10 minutes, be ready for it to stretch to 25. For them, that shows interest and expertise. For example, I gave a presentation on the Central Bank, and it ended up lasting almost half an hour. Written exams are also often graded based on how much you write, so if your handwriting is small like mine, be ready to suffer :) or just write larger and more spread out.
Dorm, Everyday Life, and Basic Inconveniences
The housing was fairly standard for India, but with some nuances. For example, to take a shower, you have to turn on the water heater 10 minutes in advance. Electricity can suddenly go out — not an issue with the dorm itself, but rather a general feature of the city. Sometimes there are curfews for returning to the dorm in the evening, so it’s worth being mentally prepared for that too.
There’s a cafeteria and a small café on campus. I didn’t go to the cafeteria at all — I was wary of the spice level and unfamiliar foods (a few people said their stomachs didn’t agree), it was mostly locals eating there, and I sometimes tried a bite from my classmates. But the café — that was love. I went there on my first day, asked for “non-spicy vegetarian rice,” and… couldn’t eat it without crying. But from then on, they remembered me, and every time I asked for “no spicy,” they really didn’t add anything. It tasted like rice with a barbecue flavor — no idea how they did it, but it was divine.
Groceries, Delivery, and Cooking
I cooked most of my meals myself. I ordered groceries through Blinkit — it’s like the local version of Samokat, delivering in 10–25 minutes. But sadly, my Kyrgyz card didn’t work there, so I had to pay in cash. That created issues: many couriers don’t accept large cash amounts because they’re oriented toward local UPI systems and QR codes.
Zomato is another popular app, but I didn’t use it for the same reason. Amazon turned out to be a lifesaver. On Amazon Fresh, you can order both food and household items. Card payments went through just fine, and delivery scheduling was convenient — you could ask them to leave it at reception or with security if you weren’t home.
You can find nearly everything on Amazon: from fruits and vegetables to sausage and bacon. Here’s what I personally tested:
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Chicken — they recommend soaking it in water for a couple of hours before cooking. I never got food poisoning in six months, maybe thanks to that.
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Sliced salmon — great for sandwiches and salads.
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Salmon steak — easy to cook in the microwave: a bit of oil, salt, spices, 5 minutes under a lid — perfect.
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Chicken sausages — quick and easy breakfasts.
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Fruit/vegetable/dishwashing cleaner — a must-have.
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Milk — this brand’s dairy is all high quality.
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Butter — works for frying; you can also find olive, coconut, sunflower, and ghee (very popular in India).
Pro tip — soak chicken in water before cooking. A relative told me that, and judging by the lack of food poisoning, it worked. I also figured out how to microwave a salmon steak: 5 minutes under a lid on high — and dinner’s ready.
Eating Out and Cafés
In Bangalore, you can find cafés and restaurants with European cuisine, so if you ever want to feel at home — it’s totally possible. The city doesn’t have a huge number of landmarks, but the main ones are easy to locate on the map. Still, I’d like to recommend a few places that truly offer delicious food and drinks.
Third Wave Coffee is a chain of coffee shops where you can definitely get a good cup of coffee or matcha, just like we’re used to. Believe me, that’s a rarity here — locals consider such drinks a luxury, so finding quality coffee is already a win.
If you want to have dinner out, I suggest heading to the HSR area — there are plenty of nice restaurants with diverse cuisines. Here are a few places I’ve been to myself and can recommend with confidence:
Payment
Check whether your card works (not only for paying in stores but also for withdrawing/depositing cash at ATMs). If there are issues — fix them ASAP.
Also, always carry cash. Some places don’t accept cards due to issues with terminals (they don’t take foreign cards, no internet, or simply don’t want to pay taxes :))
Safety, Water, Spice
Most important — only drink bottled water. Avoid drinks with ice. Indians have different digestive systems — don’t expect yours to function the same.
If you want to try street food — go with locals. If you’ve had too much spice, dairy helps, but so do fizzy drinks like cola or Sprite. The spice has an odd effect — it “burns” for 15 minutes, then disappears completely.
One more thing I noticed: when I stopped eating chicken and eggs for lunch (and switched to fish or just sides), it became easier to cope with the heat. Feels like it really works.
City, Climate, Traffic
Bangalore has the best climate in India. Not as hot as Delhi and not as humid as Mumbai. Plus, it’s the IT capital of the country with decent infrastructure and quite a few foreigners. There’s a Russian community — I was in two chats where you could ask anything or find useful tips.
You can get around by rickshaws, motorbikes, metro (not very extensive, but very modern — ride it at least once for the experience), or apps like Uber (cards work) and Rapido (you can ride as a motorbike passenger, but it’s cash-only for now). If you call transport from a touristy area, be ready for drivers to refuse app orders — “because of the commission.” Tip: walk 10–15 minutes away and call a taxi from a quieter spot.
Cultural Notes and Funny Observations
I learned that “Indian” is a nationality and “Hindu” (which in Russian sound the same) is a religion. Their taste buds are a mystery: they love everything very spicy and very sweet — at the same time. If your mouth’s on fire, they won’t give you water — they’ll offer something sugary. I don’t agree with the method, but it’s colorful.
They’re deeply religious. Before exams, they often say “Jai Shri Ram” — kind of like “Thank God.” They don’t say “bless you” or “bon appétit,” but they’re always ready to take a selfie, hug, or chat. And they’re frugal. Zara and H&M are considered expensive, and buying a few items at once can be met with genuine surprise.
Personal Takeaways
If someone asked whether I regret going to India — the answer is a solid 1000% no. It was an incredible experience. I gained knowledge in finance, made friends, got to know professors, and became more confident and mature.
The first few days I felt like a 5-year-old — didn’t know how the stove, microwave, or apps worked — everything was different. But after a couple of weeks, I was navigating the city, cooking, chatting with ease. I even learned to wrap a sari, taught a few Indians some Russian, bargained at markets, and came to appreciate Indian cuisine.
Now I want to go back to India as a tourist — more than once. The country is so multifaceted, you could travel endlessly, exploring each state, each cuisine, each tradition.
It was an adventure. I’m grateful to the GSB International Office Center, the program manager, and everyone who was part of this journey. It’s an experience that will stay with me for a lifetime.
NSB Bangalore Campus Tour by Polina
Video: Polina Pavlyuchenok