r2i forum

This is yet another diary of a R2I aspiree.

My Background :
I wanted to get away from everything in India (all the unsolicited advice / nagging / comparisons) - wanted to be independent and stand on my own feet (the usual stuff). I came here to grad school right after bachelors and have been here since and it is 9 years now.

Current Situation :
I am stuck with my job (that I used to like) in a small rustic University town and I just can't seem to move out of here. My H1 visa is running out in one year. The companies I interviewed with don't want to hire someone for a one year stint. My current company will not file my GC.

To cut the BS – I was slacking when I should've done something … and hence this quandary now.

Reasons to R2I :

1. Flexibility in moving to a slightly different field of work (It just did not happen to me here).
2. CHANGE and FRESH START
3 . I recently read somewhere that "it is better to make a wrong decision than making no-decision at all" ... which does make sense in my case. There is no point in cribbing.

I would say I really like it here (except for the job I am in) … I am a big sports nut (still a bachelor) and there are all kinds of facilities here and I have absolutely no complaints. But for the last 1.5 years I am just stuck here. There seems to be no light at the other end of the tunnel. I wanted to make this decision last August - but got sucked into the n+0.3 syndrome (lets wait another 3 months). I start this blog to make an earnest attempt this time and hopefully it serves as a self-check mechanism.

My tentative plan:
Job hunt for positions in India till the end of August. Whatever be the outcome, stop thinking and just move.

welcome back to india.

Rk

Hi Krishna

Good luck for your move. My situation was little bit same as yours ( no growth in job and was bored, looking for change, stuck in immigration limbo etc). I r2ied last year and doing well here in India. I wish you all the best. I am in Pune area. Where are you planning to settle after r2i?

Thanks

I am from Chennai but open to relocation ... Chennai / Pune / B'lore would work for me.

mvkris2;307292I wanted to get away from everything in India (all the unsolicited advice / nagging / comparisons) - wanted to be independent and stand on my own feet (the usual stuff). I came here to grad school right after bachelors and have been here since and it is 9 years now.

My H1 visa is running out in one year. The companies I interviewed with don't want to hire someone for a one year stint. My current company will not file my GC.

Reasons to R2I :

1. Flexibility in moving to a slightly different field of work (It just did not happen to me here).
2. CHANGE and FRESH START
3 . I recently read somewhere that "it is better to make a wrong decision than making no-decision at all" .

I read somewhere that good managers are those that have made more correct decisions than incorrect ones, so ye, make a decision. Indecision is very unsettling. I notice that the 4th reason is the one before the para on reasons. So it is good that you have set a cut off date. At the same time, you should start applying or making efforts to secure a job in India. Better to land up here with a job in hand than beimng vela like me.
__________________________________________________
I used to be undecisive but now I am not so sure any more.

After breaking my head and mulling this over an over like a zillion times, I have talked myself to do a r2i. And now of all times ... I have been requested to be a part of a Salsa performance troupe in town. Despite the fact that I have been dancing for almost 5 years ... this is the first time something like this is happening. What perfect timing ... Gosh !!! why is this happening NOW of all times :-| :-|.

mvkris2,
Not sure if someone else also has mentioned but for sure I have on my diary mentioned "It is better to make a wrong decision than a no decision." I have followed this throughout and have succeeded.
So now that you have made a decision don't worry. Time will tell whether it was a correct or a wrong decision but either ways it is better than status quo.
WELCOME HOME.
With low expectations and hard work you will definitely make it here. I have r2ied after 33 years and it's been about 7 months and am very much satisfied with my decision.
All the best on your move.

mvkris2;307292This is yet another diary of a R2I aspiree.

My Background :
I wanted to get away from everything in India (all the unsolicited advice / nagging / comparisons) - wanted to be independent and stand on my own feet (the usual stuff). I came here to grad school right after bachelors and have been here since and it is 9 years now.

Current Situation :
I am stuck with my job (that I used to like) in a small rustic University town and I just can't seem to move out of here. My H1 visa is running out in one year. The companies I interviewed with don't want to hire someone for a one year stint. My current company will not file my GC.

To cut the BS – I was slacking when I should've done something … and hence this quandary now.

Reasons to R2I :

1. Flexibility in moving to a slightly different field of work (It just did not happen to me here).
2. CHANGE and FRESH START
3 . I recently read somewhere that "it is better to make a wrong decision than making no-decision at all" ... which does make sense in my case. There is no point in cribbing.

I would say I really like it here (except for the job I am in) … I am a big sports nut (still a bachelor) and there are all kinds of facilities here and I have absolutely no complaints. But for the last 1.5 years I am just stuck here. There seems to be no light at the other end of the tunnel. I wanted to make this decision last August - but got sucked into the n+0.3 syndrome (lets wait another 3 months). I start this blog to make an earnest attempt this time and hopefully it serves as a self-check mechanism.

My tentative plan:
Job hunt for positions in India till the end of August. Whatever be the outcome, stop thinking and just move.

This weekend, so far, I have had some good sleep / rest ... my thinking is not "mushy" for a change. I was circulating resumes through all known channels, nothing happening so far.

I have approximately 5 weeks left (as per my plan) to find a job. My thoughts in words - Is it enough time ? How big a gamble would it be to quit my current job and just leave without anything in hand. Should I consider a 3 week break before doing a complete R2I ? Or is it worth taking the risk (cutting all links and putting myself in a do or die situation) ? ? ? as of now, I don't really know. What is the progress made towards my r2i plan ... thinking, thinking and more thinking ... and emails.

Its been a very long time since I posted (I almost forgot that I was in this forum) ... well a lot of things happened in between (In the 6+ months or so hiatus) ... I took a vacation to India last year, came back ... traveled quite a bit in the US ... met up with best friends who are distributed all over the US ... went on vacation to Alaska in winter. My R2I day is finally 'almost' here. I head to India in another 11 days (this time for good).

So my plan - there is NO plan of any sort. Get out there and figure it out ... see what happens. The only thing figured out is maybe a month or so time off and then try to find employment
;-) in India. I have been living light for quite sometime - so there is no shipping stuff issues - I plan on trying to fit all my belongings into 3 suitcases (hopefully). I must admit ... I have never been so 'socially' busy in my entire stay here in the US - so many different sets of friends and bidding adios to all of 'em.

So I am finally in India ... living light / keeping it simple and stupid over the last couple of years made my move fairly simple. I completed all my packing in 5 days, sold my car - comfortably fit my stuff in 3 suitcases. My flights were on time and the final leg (JET airlines rocks) was awesome. I did not have any issues with customs as I wasn't carrying anything expensive.

An interesting incident happened at the airport though. I was waiting for my checked-in luggage to arrive at the conveyor belt. A guy was trying to help people lift their stuff off the belt. As my stuff was almost the last to arrive, he tried to help me. I asked him who he was and he replied that he was like a porter at the airport. I told him a couple of times that I could get my stuff and suggested that there were a few women near me and he could help them instead. But he still insisted that he'd help and he did. After getting my bags he wanted me to tip him a few dollars (not Rupees but Dollars). I bluntly refused and walked away. This might be nothing new to 98.7% of you folks reading this ... but its been a while since I have been thru this kinda stuff - so thought it might be worth a mention.

It is good to be home - getting re-introduced to idly - vada - sambhar - multi-color chutneys - etc etc etc ... the list continues.