We returned to Pune April 2011

[dipashri]

R2I forum was a great help to us when we were planning our return to Pune from California.I remember the stressful sleepless nights when i would log on to it,trying to get any information on how to go about the whole change,and get info abt pune schools etc.
Finally after months of planning we returned to Pune and are settling down.
Most important thing for parents returning to India is getting good schools for their kids.the unfortunate thing abt Pune schools is that the admissions all open at different times-some start their process in December,some as late as May.For kids returning to India,they have to either leave their terms incomplete in US or join here when schools have already started.
It is best if a relative(grandparents are best help)can take a provisional admission for the grand kid,who can then return in April/may to give the interview test.DO NOT GET INTIMIDATED.the interview is mostly just a formality.

for older kids-it is good if Hindi reading and writing practice has been done.some school also have Marathi compulsory.but it is basic and quite easy.Hindi is a bit difficult in most CBSE schools.
Try getting a flat on rent near the school as commuting is quite a pain in the undisciplined pune traffic.rainy season create a havoc in the already chaotic system.

will post more as and when i get time.do write to me for queries regarding Return to pune.will try my best tp help with info i have.
good luck with your move!

[cf_r2i]

Congratulations ! It was great step and I get feeling from your diary "a successful one". I attempted R2I in 2008 and due to job I have to return. It would be helpful if you can describe how did you find job? And job related information will be very helpful to me.

[dipashri]

in our case it was company transfer to the Indian branch.

[kkassociate]

Hi all,

All the best on your R2I, we provide assistance in both US and India tax filings from Pune. You can visit us at www.kkassociate.com

Regards,
KKA
US and India tax filers
www.kkassociate.com

[dipashri]

some more school related experiences-the class teacher changed abruptly in the first week.the first one had good communication skills, excellent english etc...cannot say the same about the second one.not expected this from a reputed school which charges 60000/- annually.quite disappointed with this school .will try for another one next year.feel sorry for my kid.syllabus in math and environmental for 3rd grade CBSE is not at par with SSC school.hindi is slightly tough with difficult vocabulary words...especially to non-Hindi speaking families...
loud music in the neighborhood all day yesterday on account of Vata Pournima.....quite annoying since my husband had to cancel his US meeting on the phone due to the noise.
more tomorrow.

[John Koshy]

Welcome to Pune. I also live in Pune & returned to India 6 years ago. Just curious which school you are talking about. From our experience, CBSE schools are few in Pune & from what I have heard not as good. A notable exception could be DPS but have some coworkers whose experiences with DPS that have not been very good. ICSE schools tend to be better & perhaps SSC also - do not have much experience with them. As regards teachers leaving - I think that is an overall problem in India. Attrition in all kinds of jobs.

Good Luck - stick with it. Based on our experience, the first 6 months are the hardest. One other learning for us was to try & stay close to the school - no more than 2-3 kms.

[dipashri]

thanks for all the comments.daily experiences change and sometimes we feel that moving here was a mistake.my son has not yet settled in school-complains abt the commute,the heavy backpacks,the teacher speaking wrong english etc.also has been unable to get friends in the neighborhood as well as school.(it seems his friends all speak in hindi,which he cannot keep up with)-i blame myself for his situation and feel loaded with guilt.
then there are days where we feel this was the best decision.
my husband will soon have an opportunity to return to US(this time on a B1)(for a short duration) and needless to say i am giving him a big list of shopping!

[mn_op]

thanks for all the comments.daily experiences change and sometimes we feel that moving here was a mistake.my son has not yet settled in school-complains abt the commute,the heavy backpacks,the teacher speaking wrong english etc.also has been unable to get friends in the neighborhood as well as school.(it seems his friends all speak in hindi,which he cannot keep up with)-i blame myself for his situation and feel loaded with guilt.

My son probably has similar problems as he cannot speak Hindi/Marathi. He also tells me that teachers in Canada were funny and teachers in India are all serious.

[LotsOfRokda]

as much as you may not want to, you will have to interfere for him to make friends. My son had an issue and would get bullied for his accent. My spouse then started spending some time with all the kids , playing with them. They started including him in their games with their broken english- ice breaker.
Talk to some sensible teacher at school to let him sit near a fellow student he feels comfortable with.

[digitally1]

We are returning to India on a company transfer in about 2 months. I'm try to gather as much info as possible to prepare a definitive list of things to do and things to buy before we move.

dipashri -
[LIST=1]
You said you have a shopping list for your husband who is visting USA.. I'm curious to know what stuff did you want to get from US after settling in India. This will help me plan ahead for myself.
[/LIST]
[LIST=2]
When you moved to India, what all stuff did you bring back home?? How is your experience with logistics and at the customs?
[/LIST]

Thanks in advance!