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Nafis Jaliwala

Nafis Jaliwala is a successful homebuilder in Columbus, something she says she "could never have dreamed of becoming" in her hometown of Bombay, India.

In the past nine years she has built 10 houses. She moved to the United states in 1972 with her husband, who came to study. They've lived in Columbus since 1982. Nafis, whose hobbies include gourmet cooking and interior decorating, decided to build her own home when she lived in Massachusetts because of the high cost of living there. She turned that experience into a business when they moved to Columbus, where her husband works for Cummins Engine Co. She studied English in India, and experienced few language barriers in the U.S. The langauge skills are important, she said, working with local tradesmen.

When she moved to Columbus, the city was not as ethnically diverse as it is today, she said, and she had problems getting the different sorts of vegetables -- varieties of eggplants, squashes, beans and okra -- which were staples of the Indian diet. But the farmer's market in the summer has helped fill that void, and many groceries are now carrying ethnic foods.

Bombay is a very large city where life is hectic and streets are crowded, with transportation and housing problems. It's difficult to own property in Bombay, and most live in apartments. The industrial nature of the city, however, with its factories, mills and high-tech companies, is similar to Columbus.

Born a Muslim, Nafis says India's religions are varied, including Hindus, Christians and Muslims. The style of worshipping is one of the main differences she's experienced since moving to the U.S., along with changes in diet and the absence of joint family living. In India, she says, it is common for children to remain in their parents' home after marriage, and to raise their own families there, if space permits.

India is independent, and residents enjoy many of the same freedoms as Americans, she said. But Columbus is where she chooses to live because of its friendly small-town atmosphere and safe environment without an isolated rural atmosphere. "This is a great town. It's very diverse, a great place to raise kids, and one can adjust easily. It's a very, very pleasant place to live."