Latest news with #Karaza
NDTV
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
US Woman Who Moved To India At 19 For A Job Shares Journey: "Love Bombay So Much"
Eliza Karaza, a Syrian-American artist and entrepreneur born in the US, shared a heartfelt post about how Mumbai transformed her life. At 19, she took a leap of faith and moved to India, despite knowing little about the city or her new life. Ten years later, she's reflecting on the journey with gratitude. In an Instagram post, Ms Karaza revealed that she moved to India in 2015 to work as an art teacher without knowing her salary or where she would live. However, Mumbai's energy and challenges helped her grow. She penned a love letter to the city, affectionately calling it "Bombay," and shared her experiences of thriving in the vibrant metropolis. Ten years ago, I went to Mumbai for a job. I hadn't spoken to the employer. I didn't know where either was staying when I got there. I didn't know how I would get to whatever unknown place they were putting me. I didn't know what my salary would be. Where the job was even going to be. It was a teaching gig, but I didn't know which school it was going to be at. But who cares?! I was 19 and excited," she wrote. See the post here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by 🌑eliza🌙 (@kweenkaraza) Ms Karaza's Instagram post about her life-changing experience in Mumbai resonated with many people. Her decision to move to India at 19 and her subsequent growth story inspired internet users who praised her courage and adaptability. One user wrote, "Recently moved to South Korea without a place to live LMAO I feel u. This post is the motivation I needed today." Another commented, "This is so inspiring, as a fellow creative navigating work for the first time." A third said, "This is peace, that eventually everything will be okay one day, and we're here just to learn. I'm going through a similar phase, and this reel gave me reassurance that feels relieving. Thank you." A fourth added, "omg you are the coolest." Notably, Ms Karaza is a Syrian-American artist and entrepreneur, born and raised in Chicago. She is the founder of Harakaat, a fashion label launched in 2020, known for hand-painted denim jackets that blend South Asian aesthetics, like Pakistani truck art, Mughal miniatures, and Bollywood motifs, with Western streetwear. Her work reflects her mixed-Arab background and Muslim identity, often challenging stereotypes through vibrant, expressive designs. Ms Karaza also co-founded Mehal House, a creative studio and lifestyle brand.
India Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
US woman who moved to India at 19 for a job writes heartfelt note to Mumbai
Eliza Karaza shared this picture in a now-viral post on Instagram. India Today Trending Desk A woman from Chicago moved to Mumbai at 19 without a job or living details She started as an art teacher and embraced Mumbai's chaos Her story resonated with many facing new city challenges A woman moved from Chicago to Mumbai at 19 without knowing her salary, school, or even where she'd live. A decade later, she penned a heartfelt note to the city that helped her grow up. In 2015, 19-year-old Eliza Karaza boarded a flight to India with barely any details in hand. She had never been to the country, had never held a full-time job, and had no idea what the role would pay, or even where she'd stay. But she was eager. 'Ten years ago, I went to Mumbai for a job. I hadn't spoken to the employer. I didn't know where either was staying when I got there,' she said. Ten years later, Karaza, a Syrian-American artist and entrepreneur, looked back at that bold decision in an Instagram post that felt more like a love letter to Mumbai than a story about career risks. 'I didn't know what my salary would be. I didn't know which school I'd be teaching at. I hadn't even spoken to my employer,' she added. None of that mattered to her then. 'But who cares?! I was 19 and excited!' she said, summing up the carefree courage of someone ready to leap without a safety net. Born and raised in Chicago, Karaza moved to Mumbai to work as an art teacher. Since then, she has built a creative life in the city. In 2020, she launched Harakaat, a fashion label known for its hand-painted denim jackets that merge South Asian art with Western silhouettes. She also co-founded Mehal House, a creative studio and lifestyle brand, with her partner. From being clueless about how she'd commute to finding her own rhythm in the chaos, Mumbai gave her more than just a job. It gave her roots. 'I love Bombay so much,' she wrote. 'I loved how easy it was to get around. I felt so free.' Take a look at her post here: Her post resonated with many who related to the unpredictability of moving to a new city. 'Woah!! I came to the US at 18 (didn't know anyone either), but I think I might have had an easier time than you,' a user said. Another user wrote, 'This is peace, that eventually everything will be okay one day, and we're here just to learn. I'm going through a similar phase, and this reel gave me reassurance that feels relieving. Thank you.' 'Bombay does that to people. It terrifies you, then teaches you how to live,' one of the users said. See the comments here: From not knowing where she'd sleep to building two homegrown brands in India, Eliza Karaza's journey has been anything but ordinary. She didn't just survive Mumbai, she let it raise her. A woman moved from Chicago to Mumbai at 19 without knowing her salary, school, or even where she'd live. A decade later, she penned a heartfelt note to the city that helped her grow up. In 2015, 19-year-old Eliza Karaza boarded a flight to India with barely any details in hand. She had never been to the country, had never held a full-time job, and had no idea what the role would pay, or even where she'd stay. But she was eager. 'Ten years ago, I went to Mumbai for a job. I hadn't spoken to the employer. I didn't know where either was staying when I got there,' she said. Ten years later, Karaza, a Syrian-American artist and entrepreneur, looked back at that bold decision in an Instagram post that felt more like a love letter to Mumbai than a story about career risks. 'I didn't know what my salary would be. I didn't know which school I'd be teaching at. I hadn't even spoken to my employer,' she added. None of that mattered to her then. 'But who cares?! I was 19 and excited!' she said, summing up the carefree courage of someone ready to leap without a safety net. Born and raised in Chicago, Karaza moved to Mumbai to work as an art teacher. Since then, she has built a creative life in the city. In 2020, she launched Harakaat, a fashion label known for its hand-painted denim jackets that merge South Asian art with Western silhouettes. She also co-founded Mehal House, a creative studio and lifestyle brand, with her partner. From being clueless about how she'd commute to finding her own rhythm in the chaos, Mumbai gave her more than just a job. It gave her roots. 'I love Bombay so much,' she wrote. 'I loved how easy it was to get around. I felt so free.' Take a look at her post here: Her post resonated with many who related to the unpredictability of moving to a new city. 'Woah!! I came to the US at 18 (didn't know anyone either), but I think I might have had an easier time than you,' a user said. Another user wrote, 'This is peace, that eventually everything will be okay one day, and we're here just to learn. I'm going through a similar phase, and this reel gave me reassurance that feels relieving. Thank you.' 'Bombay does that to people. It terrifies you, then teaches you how to live,' one of the users said. See the comments here: From not knowing where she'd sleep to building two homegrown brands in India, Eliza Karaza's journey has been anything but ordinary. She didn't just survive Mumbai, she let it raise her. Join our WhatsApp Channel
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘I love Bombay so much': US woman's love letter to the city that taught her hustle
Eliza Karaza was just 19 when she was hired to be an art teacher at a Mumbai school. Born and raised in the United States, Karaza packed her bags and moved to Mumbai armed with nothing more than her enthusiasm. In an Instagram post shared last week, the artist and entrepreneur revealed that she did not even know her salary or the location of the school when she first moved to Mumbai in 2015. Ten years later, she has learned much about life and hustle living in Mumbai. In her love letter to 'Bombay', Karaza opened up about her first time in the Maximum City. Eliza Karaza is a Syrian-American artist who was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. In 2020, she launched Harakaat, a brand known for its hand-painted denim jackets that blend South Asian aesthetics – such as Indian truck art, Mughal miniature painting, and Bollywood motifs – with Western streetwear silhouettes. She and her partner have also founded Mehal House, a creative studio and lifestyle brand. In her viral Instagram post, Karaza revealed how she moved to Mumbai 10 years ago for a teaching gig. She knew little about the city or the country - 'I had never had a proper job before. I had never been to India before,' she wrote. In fact, Karaza did not even know where she would be staying and had not even spoken to her employer. A post shared by 🌑eliza🌙 (@kweenkaraza) 'I hadn't spoken to the employer. I didn't know where either was staying when I got there. I didn't know how I would get to whatever unknown place they were putting me,' she wrote. 'I didn't know what my salary would be. Where the job was even going to be. It was a teaching gig but I didn't know which school it was going to be at. But who cares?! I was 19 and excited!' she added. But Karaza found a place for herself in Mumbai. She learned to speak Hindi - she is, in fact, now fluent in the language - she made friends and grew up in Mumbai. 'I love Bombay so much,' she wrote on Instagram. 'I loved how easy it was to get around. I felt so free.' 'Mumbai made me an adult. I had to grow up. I was in a country where I didn't know anyone, speaking a language I wasn't great at. But I made lifelong bonds with the people I met,' she said. 'I learned so much about life and hustle and work and figuring s*** out on the fly,' Karaza added.
