VA_INDIAN R2I Diary

[VA_INDIAN]

On my friend Petergriffin's advice, I was motivated to start the R2I diary. Well at first I did not know what to put as I have not been in US for that long (10-15 years)

My Stay in US: Close to 6 years
Status : EAD : EB3(2005 PD)
Job : Was full time, resigned 2 days ago( will write more in detail below)
Compelling reasons to R2I : Mother being alone, and most important is not seeing any benefit living in US anymore. With single income, there are hardly any savings, changing jobs or finding better opportunity in same place very difficult. Nothing changes in America where ever we go.. Feeling of isolation at times, not able to relate well to the society except Indians. Doing everything Indian almost, Indian restaurant, Indian friends, Indian movies , Indian Grocery etc... So what is that American we do. Even boss is Indian in office. And more than half of colleagues. On Green card front too things are looking very bleak....no point waiting. And moreover I always felt GC is good to have as a security , always, but if one has to live in India then what do one do with GC?

Returning to India has been going on in my mind for a while now. I thought to start a diary here to pen down my thoughts , emotions. Been in US close to 6 years , but have been traveling from India every year since 2001. Came to US in 2004 got a full time job which I still had until I resigned. Applied Green card which is in final stage. Call it 485 or EAD in EB3. Always felt a void and emptimess to live my life here. I have heard people say happy people are always happy anywhere, but I feel I am not among them. I am like that wondering monk who has no destination it seems. The thought of going to India is infact very exciting.

I booked my one way ticket first time end of June. Was challenging to do that. Each day marks its own challenge. Am I doing right? I am going to India , dont have a job yet , have a full time job in US a 6 figure salary. Peaceful life. I am going to unknown situation . Have been out of touch from India, just few visits in these years. But still feel like to go ahead

When I hear the problems like water, electricty, heat, traffic, I get to think how to live there? But may be time will make it better for me

When I see India , it offers so many things, so many languages which I felt were a negative for India today I feel they are positive, because the diversity brings so much color in life. I like to watch and listen to music from so many languages I know , May be 4-5. If we were not in India we would have known one or may be two languages. The culture is so rich in India. Folk songs, music , ghazals, pop , filmi. Just name it and we can see and relate our self to everything ..

I started packing stuff some two weeks ago, Initially I thought I will only take extra luggage with me in air but I realised I will pay so much money to air lines might as well ship it via cargo and pay some more and take the stuff which either I would have thrown it here or sold for very less amount , which I would need to buy in India for e.g I shipped Plasma 50 inch tv, I got divided opinion but at last bought a NTSC to PAL converter and shipped it to India. Hopefully it works...and gives good quality picture. So the packing started, and it came to around 33-34 items in all, including boxes. I took services of www.worldwide4shipping.com. So far the services have been good. My shipment will sail from NY to Mumbai on 15th and I was told it will take approx 45 days to reach at my home in Pune...

Big challenge is to find a job in India, as I have resigned and do not have a job on hand, but I am hopeful. Though my stars have told me please don't quit without another job, please don't go to India, you will see more growth abroad(some astrologers) I took a deep breath and said I will dive into the deep and come out. Let see what happens. I have not seen any growth in US for that matter yet. Last thing I want to do is come back to US again if I dont find a job in India soon enough. I feel being in IT and seeing the market improve considerably is giving me hope. Last year or so when I used to search naukri.com I used to see only 6-7 listings in my area of work in IT, but now I see at least 30. That makes me feel yes it is improving . Two days ago there was a article on Yahoo India that the market in India, China and Brazil is seeing tremendous growth due to the economies enjoying the import and export markets but markets in US are pretty slow.

Then the challenge is to work in that job as work culture is pretty different in India . But I know with so many returnees, I won't be an exception either. Moreover I have worked in India before coming to US so a plus compared to someone who has never worked. Working in US has taught me some good lessons , do's and dont's which I want to carry to my next job.

Kids front:

Son is 3 years old, already in India, secured admission in a good school in Pune. When I visit the schools website and browse through all that school has to offer in terms of extra ciricular activities, academics, I feel satisfied overall. In India way back when we were in school in small town we used to have all round development activity. That is one thing which I like about Indian schools. Kids have to play sports, they have to take part in all activities of some sort . I am happy for my son ...

Daughter is in 10th grade here in US, her SOL exams are over, school's last day is 19th results are out on 25th. I need to go to her school to collect packet of all records from school on 25th. She will start 11th grade in India, she is very much inclined to do science but I am very scared the reason is she has not studied chemistry, physics yet here in US. How is she going to get used to science stream wherein even the most industrious and people who have lived in India throught slog themself to score big numbers in 12th.? Anyway so I thought I will decide by going to India, talking to some of the counselor in college, professor etc. I happened to call a good college randomly , I spoke to a admin staff and he said SSC results are not yet out and so once they are out in few days , the centralised form would need to be filled , he said he will keep a form for me and call me once the results are out. I said thank you. People unknown too wish to help in India, that is amazing.....

For my daughter I always felt she will be happy in India, more friends,more social life . Though there are issues in society for a young girl to face but one also gets support to fight them.... Education being one of the best in Pune is another motivation factor. And I prefer tier II cities ....

She says she will miss her friends in US , initially she had tough time making them but now that she has, now its time to move again....

Work Front

Initially I was skeptical whether to resign without a job in hand and go or not. Then I decided the job is a drag for me now. Almost 5 years nothing seems changing. Moreover it was becoming too taxing and manager behaving like a autocrat who got all the powers all of a sudden with promotion sort of:e
And he picked Indians to show cause his powers it seems. Well the drag got over. I resigned without worrying about job in India. I gave two weeks notice, last day being June 24th , and am travelling to India June 30th. Not that I have loads of money, I can survive for some time. The peace of mind is worth a lot now for me for few months and no dilly dallying or thinking of going back to US if I dont find work...in a months time. I still get these thoughts what if I dont find work in India in 2-3 months, should I then travel to find job in US alone?

Home front:

I already have a apartment in Pune, in a nice locality and having all amenities, swimming pool , club house, play area for children. I feel these days Indian constructions are improving in terms of facilities being offered there. Just two days ago I read on TOI Pune that big malls are coming up in Pune like Orbit mall and some more. And the picture I saw I have not seen such a mall in America yet. I also saw a very good state of the art gym in my area, pretty impressed, hope the real gym is as impressive as website...:o

Car:

Looking at some advices I am thinking to buy a Honda City or a SUV like Safari. However both of them are in 10 lakh range and so expensive. One worry is if I take car out of showroom will some auto hit the brand new car and cause a dent:p
Another option is to buy a used car , in any case I am not feeling comfortable with stick shift arrangement now. I feel it will be much less stressful if I have automatic car.

For some days auto ride will give fun too....Slang like kitna hua, chaloge kya? long time not used...

Also looking at overall development in India, and ease of doing things , like we cannot find a prepaid data card to browse internet in US but in India it is possible. Also speeds are good these days I have heard. Of course India is also becoming expensive but still it is something we can manage...one way or other...

I also want to achieve some objective in social work in India.. I hope I will...

So far so good, and I hope I stay put...

I am getting lot of insipiration from some diaries especially those of Maya's and also returnedria's( young child who is blogging her experience as 5th grader). That is really wonderful experience...

I wish and pray my return becomes successful I wish I dont repent my return ever. I wish that day come when I live in India happily....

I want my passion for India increases day by day till I go and sustain there. I will keep posting on this thread to share my feelings, concerns, experience with my plan of R2I.

Want to end my OP with famous song's lyrics from Raj Kapoor's “Jis Desh me Ganga bahti hai"

Aa ab laut chalen
aa ab laut chalen
naina bichhaaye baahen pasaare
tujhko pukaare desh teraa
aa ab laut chalen

sahaj hai seedhi raah pe chalnaa
dekh ke uljhan bach ke nikalnaa
koyi ye chaahe maane na maane
bahut hai mushkil gir ke sambhalanaa
aa ab laut chalen

aankh hamaari manzil par hai
dil mein khushi ki mast lahar hai
laakh lubhaayen mahal paraa_e
apnaa ghar phir apanaa ghar hai
aa ab laut chalen


__________________

[back2desh]

Excellent Decision and Good Luck with the move!!! Everything thing will work out fine for you VA_INDIAN, don't worry.

[farfromhome]

VA_INDIAN:

Thanks for starting your diary. Best wishes and Good luck with your move. :thup:

>>> I also want to achieve some objective in social work in India.. I hope I will...

You definitely will. I think long time members know your efforts and how you feel about helping the society. India will only get better with folks like you returning back.

[BeeAndButterfly]

Good luck va_india. Very well written. Will look for updates to you r2i directory.

[Got2GoHome]

VA_INDIAN,

Got a feeling from your recent posts that a diary from you was anytime due. Really felt happy reading your diary as I could relate to it very much.

On the job front, don't worry. Getting an IT job in Pune shouldn't be difficult at all, considering how the market in India has picked up. Best of luck.

As part of my R2I, I sent my family to India 2 weeks back. Staying apart is so difficult and I am now thinking of taking a one-way ticket to join my family and the current market conditions in India are giving me the confidence of going there without a job in hand. Relieved to see that there are others as well taking such steps and that I am not alone.

A word of caution:
For the first couple of weeks into R2I, all the good things about India that we had been appreciating will take a back seat and all the great things about US will take the front seat. And, we would be wondering why at all we took the pains to R2I. So, expect some frustration. But don't give up. Take it easy. The water will be clear only when the mud has settled.

You have a very positive attitude and I am sure you will have a successful R2I. My best wishes.

[VA_INDIAN]

Thank you my friend...I also hope you will find a job and unite with your family soon. Please keep us posted, do you have a R2I diary too?

Yes I did note your word of caution, it will be helpful. I know first few days/weeks will be days of shock and adjustments too along with some pleasant surprises.

VA_INDIAN,

Got a feeling from your recent posts that a diary from you was anytime due. Really felt happy reading your diary as I could relate to it very much.

On the job front, don't worry. Getting an IT job in Pune shouldn't be difficult at all, considering how the market in India has picked up. Best of luck.

As part of my R2I, I sent my family to India 2 weeks back. Staying apart is so difficult and I am now thinking of taking a one-way ticket to join my family and the current market conditions in India are giving me the confidence of going there without a job in hand. Relieved to see that there are others as well taking such steps and that I am not alone.

A word of caution:
For the first couple of weeks into R2I, all the good things about India that we had been appreciating will take a back seat and all the great things about US will take the front seat. And, we would be wondering why at all we took the pains to R2I. So, expect some frustration. But don't give up. Take it easy. The water will be clear only when the mud has settled.

You have a very positive attitude and I am sure you will have a successful R2I. My best wishes.

[soomdy]

Good luck!
Congratulations!

[Vid_Bangalore]

Va_indian,
Nice, honest dairy. Thank you for sharing it with us. You have taken a bold decision. I am sure everything will fall in place given a little bit of time. I am sure some of the folks here too can give you some leads with respect to the job hunt.

I believe things do work out when we trust out instincts...Good luck! :)

[Got2GoHome]

Thank you my friend...I also hope you will find a job and unite with your family soon. Please keep us posted, do you have a R2I diary too?

Thank you. Will surely be creating my diary soon (in a couple of weeks) once my head calms down.:))

[Hyd ki]

Congratulations!!!!!

One thing I want to tell, about buying automatic car. I also thought exactly like you during first two months. In three more days, I finish 3months of R2I.

I am glad I did not make any major purchases. Because our opinions change a lot as we settle down a bit. The things that bothered me in the first two months, now I am very comfortable with them.

I also strongly wanted to buy an automatic car. But now I decided to buy a gear car, as I felt comfortable driving a gear car. It might not be true in your case. But wait a little bit, before you make the purchase. Even if you happen to buy an automatic car, dont ever give that car to a driver, unless the driver has lot driving experience with automatic car. I heard at least three instances, where drivers pressed Brake, thinking that its Clutch, in two cases, car was damaged really bad.

All the best.