r2i forum

I kid people and my friends tease me that my R2I plan is like Dr. Evil's world domination plan. :p

I have lived in the US for the past 12 years. I have lost track of when I started to plan for R2I. If you search my history of posts, you will see that I go a long while with R2IClubForums.

In the meantime, I have seen about a dozen friends go to India, about half of them come back and close friends who stayed who struggle to fit in. I think I have researched more about R2I than people who have actually R2Ied (and R2Aed ;) ).

My background:

Professional: I am a hacker. I love to code. I have been coding for most of my 16 year career. I still code > 40 hours a week. I enjoy creating things using software. I was determined that if I R2I, I will continue to hack in India and if not, I won't R2I :).

I also like startups. I have worked for the past 9 years in startups.

So I clubbed the two, joined forces with people of similar interests (helped many people in my previous startup were interested in India as well) and we started a startup 3 years ago. We were focused on US and wanted to expand in India.

Then Lehman Brothers happened. We didn't know what hit us. Weeks became months and the VCs stopped answering. We re-energized ourselves and found customers in India, things started picking up, very slowly.

After many many months of no paychecks, we now earn a small paycheck. Things are picking up in Asia and the focus has shifted towards Asia for the next few years at least.

I do what I like - coding a LOT :).

Personal: Lovely wife who has a great career here and supported my entrepreneurship ambitions through her paycheck. Two daughters who will be aged 7 and 5 soon. (2nd grade and UKG in India from June).

Wife has a great job here and is sad to quit, but she is interested in R2I. She has a major dilemma about career vs stay at home for a few years. Almost everyone tells us work life in Bangalore is bad for a mom. That is a big question mark right now.

Immigration: I can apply for USC next year. I got N-470 approved for the startup since it is a inter-country transfer. I am keen on getting USC. It is very clear to me that I am going to be an entrepreneur for a long time to come. I don't know what the scene in India will be (have some experience there). I definitely want to keep all options open.

R2I date: R2Iing this April, got tickets, arranging container and all. Got school admissions, know which area we are going to live etc. Just have to find an apartment. Kids will start school in June.

Worries: Worried about how we are going to settle down, wife's career, giving up her great job with a lot of perks. Worried about Kids asthma situation in Bangalore. Having sleepless nights.

This either is the smartest decision or my dumbest decision in life. Time will tell which one.

LOL.. Loved the heading of your diary... Good luck with your R2I plans. :emrose:

Keep us posted.

Couldn't resist asking - Asterix & Obelix fan too?

Of course :). All my linux computers are named after gauls and windows machines after Romans :)

obelixr2i;372366Of course :). All my linux computers are named after gauls and windows machines after Romans :)

Me likeyyy... Then you are Vitalstatistix, not obelix, dude! :p
FFH and RRK are fans too.
FFH tho, is a goner like me - he is into all comics, animated movies and toy trains. :))

Did you fall into a vat of code or something ? Nice avatar name !!
Someone else with a child (who has big time allergies to dust and pollen) posted his diary here. Farfromhome, I believe. Check that out. When there is enough rain in the location, it washes the particles down. That could be a long range solution.
Before you leave for home, check out the discussions on Astronomix, Homeopathix and Ayur_Vedix and post a few stirring notes.

Good luck with your R2I plans and all the best with your startup :)

okonomi;372370Did you fall into a vat of code or something ? Nice avatar name !!
Someone else with a child (who has big time allergies to dust and pollen) posted his diary here. Farfromhome, I believe. Check that out. When there is enough rain in the location, it washes the particles down. That could be a long range solution.
Before you leave for home, check out the discussions on Astronomix, Homeopathix and Ayur_Vedix and post a few stirring notes.

Thanks O.

OP,

With the strength of Obelix, you should be able to overcome the hurdles of r2i :). My kid has asthma and it has gotten much better after we moved to Chennai.

There are a few threads discussing about Asthma in Bangalore. Please do go through them.

http://www.r2iclubforums.com/forums/showthread.php/21231-Anyone-R2Ied-with-a-baby-having-astma-breathing-issues

Heh, if I am Vitalstatix, then my wife would be Impedimenta, but my lovely wife is anything but ;) (Note to self, point this thread to the wife).

I love the secondary characters - Haddock, Costanza, Obelix, Joey, Paulie Walnuts, Dwight, the list is endless :D.

Sai_R2I;372368Me likeyyy... Then you are Vitalstatistix, not obelix, dude! :p
FFH and RRK are fans too.
FFH tho, is a goner like me - he is into all comics, animated movies and toy trains. :))

Lovely. "Fall into a vat of code" :), that is a great way of putting it.

I will check out the Asterix posts :).

Thanks for the allergy pointer. BTW, I used to have terrible allergies in Bangalore. I used to have cold 10 months an year. It recurred to me 5 years after I came to Bay Area. After nearly 5 years of allergy shots, I am much better right now.

However that isn't going to save me from dust allergies which are mainly irritants. I will read what Farfromhome has to say :).

Appreciate your help here.

okonomi;372370Did you fall into a vat of code or something ? Nice avatar name !!
Someone else with a child (who has big time allergies to dust and pollen) posted his diary here. Farfromhome, I believe. Check that out. When there is enough rain in the location, it washes the particles down. That could be a long range solution.
Before you leave for home, check out the discussions on Astronomix, Homeopathix and Ayur_Vedix and post a few stirring notes.

trueindian;372371Good luck with your R2I plans and all the best with your startup :)

Thanks and wish you the same too :).