Immigrants' dream: Riyals passe, dollars in

HYDERABAD: Riyals and dirhams arepasse. Dollars, pounds and euros are the new buzzwords in the OldCity.The greenback slips in and out of conversations at theroad-side Irani cafe like it''s the legal tender of the area. No, they are notwily forex dealers, but youngsters with dollar dreams gleaming in their eyes.The old favourite, the Gulf, is no longer the ''Destination No 1'' for these youngpeople. With information technology still luring scores of young menand women from the state, the Gen-Next from the Old City too want their share ofthe pie. Though several make it to the lands of opportunity, a large number ofthem return disappointed after failing to convince immigrationofficials.Localities like Saidabad, Malakpet and Chanchalguda haveat least one member from each family studying abroad — be it the US orEurope. In several cases, old friends help their childhood pals in processingpapers.This symbiotic relationship has spawned friendlyneighbourhoods. A locality in Chicago even bears a very familiar city name,Chanchalguda.It''s no surprise that a large number of locals fromChanchalguda and surrounding areas reside there. Several shops and hotels thereare similar to Hyderabadi dukans.Syed Afaq Mateen of Malakpet, M AMajid of Kishanbagh, Mohammed Osama of Golconda and Mir Sajid Ali of Tolichowkihave been friends from Intermediate.Their bond of friendship hadgrown so strong that they decided that come what may, they would remain friendsfor life. After their post-graduation, there was a time when career was theirfirst priority. It appeared then that they would go in fourdirections.But luckily, they all made it to one of the world''slargest computer companies — IBM. As fate would have it, all four wereposted to Dublin (Ireland) and, what more, they stay together."Wehave been working here for the past two years. We send money home to ourfamilies. More importantly, we (friends) are all together," they told The Timesof India. If for some, dollar dreams turned real, for some fortune hunters itspelt doom.(##include msid=43376741,type=11 ##)Only a few graduates who aregoing to European nations on study or visiting visas are able to save somemoney, while for many its barely enough for survival. Students, particularlythose who going to Schengen countries, are struggling a lot due to languageproblems and poor economy of those nations.Travel agents andindividuals fall to the lure of easy visa processing of Schengen countries,including Germany and Holland. Youth of the Old City fall prey to these easyopportunities and end up conned. Some have even lost upwards of Rs 1 lakh justfor a work permit of these nations.The logic behind this urge forquick money is that they are safer bets than the Gulf nations. ShahabuddinSaleem, a resident of Mallepally,who had been in Sweden for three years andreturned to the city for his brother''s marriage, said he suffered a lot forthree years, but now he is used to the atmosphere."Those who aregoing to Schengen countries face a lot of hardships," he added. Apart fromlosing huge sums to the agents, they are cheated by some universities too, hesaid."Several Old City youth met me there and narrated their woes.Their financial situation is miserable," he added. Mohammed Rashed, a residentof Falaknuma, who was in Finland for six months, could not continue hiseducation and hence returned."I could not meet my expanses there.Part-time jobs were very tough and punishing," Rashed said. "I am anengineer.I will not work like a labourer. Instead, I will take up alow-paying job here," he told .