Despite the US issuing a terror alert for India, American Shiri Leventhal (25), who's been here for nearly two years and traversed farther than the average Indian, tells Alisha Coelho fears are unfounded I came to India in 2007, when I got a job with a micro finance firm in Delhi, and soon after that I moved to Mumbai where I have been living since. In my time here, I have travelled across the country and taken in the most spectacular views on mountain passes at Leh, beaches in Goa, the backwaters in Kerala and the Golden Temple at Amritsar. <img alt="" src="/imagedata/2009/jun/shiri.jpg" align="right" border="1" />I'm also no stranger to terror. I was in New York (where I lived) when 9/11 happened. I was in Sri Lanka when a civil war was raging and I was in Mumbai when the terrorists struck last November. And, therefore, when my family persuades me to return, it's only because of health reasons. I've seen more doctors in India than I've ever seen anywhere else, but there's never been a safety concern.u00a0 Attacks happen everywhere London, Madrid, New York, Mumbai, Delhi. When a white girl steps out in India, she gets a lot of attention but it's unfair to assume that it's unsafe because you'd get as much attention anywhere if you stood out in the crowd. My idea of safety is having people awake and out and about. Mumbai, in that respect, doesn't make me think twice about getting back home after midnight. Also, there are little things like hospitality. If you were lost on the streets, you'd have a whole crowd of people pointing in the direction you needed to go to. In New York, it'd be hard to even get someone to stop long enough to get them to hear your question. It's not all been a joy ride. I've been robbed and at the colony where I've lived for over a year, people still stare. Living here is hard, unless you have a car and a swanky flat and not all foreign nationals have that option. However, travelling in this country has been memorable. There's so much to see and do and when I leave this August, I would definitely reconsider coming back to visit the places that I haven't had the time to cover during my spell here. The warning On June 2, the US government on its embassy and consulate websites issued an 'urgent warden message', cautioning US citizens that there was "a high threat from terrorism throughout India." "As terror attacks are a serious and growing threat, US citizens are urged to always practice good security, including maintaining a heightened situational awareness and a low profile," said the statement. Furthermore, the note advised Americans that they should vary their routes and times in carrying out their daily activities. The US Consulate in Mumbai did not offer further comment when contacted.

Despite the US issuing a terror alert for India, American Shiri Leventhal (25), who's been here for nearly two years and traversed farther than the average Indian, tells Alisha Coelho fears are unfounded 

Incredible India, not terrifying India

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Incredible India, not terrifying India

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