Frode Haugen, the executive vice-president of Uninor came to India in late 2008 and was instantly smitten by the country. “I have travelled across the world extensively, yet India is the one country that offers the best of both, the developed and the developing worlds. It is a country, buoyed by massive economic growth trying to emerge as a major player in the international arena. It has not aped the West in its march towards progress and has kept its culture and traditions alive.”
He adds, “It has been a learning experience and I have enjoyed it a lot. It is louder, colourful and much more chaotic as compared to Norway.”
When he moved to India, Frode had anticipated a cultural shock. “However, since I had visited India many times before, I hardly noticed the difference. In Bangalore, the weather made me fall in love with the city.”
An active golf player, Frode has taken a liking to the game of cricket as well. “I do watch some matches in the world cup. It was the IPL that got me interested in cricket. It is a bit complicated to understand, but I have a fair idea now. The passion that drives this sport in this part of the world is almost surreal.”
He is passionate about food and is a great fan of Indian cuisine. “I only discovered that Indian cuisine was very diverse when I started living in India. I prefer tandoor items for lunch and dinner. I prefer south Indian foods for breakfast.”
The traffic in the city hardly poses any problems for the Norwegian. “It is probably due to the fact that I stay very close to my office complex and do not have to face rush hour traffic everyday. I feel that the traffic and infrastructure issues are being sorted out. With the advent of the metro next month, I think it will be easy for many commuters.”
