R2I :USA to Mumbai - 6 months on.

[mkngtrbl]

Its been 6 months to our R2I and so far it has been a good transition back for us. I got a lot from this forum and member's contribution so wanted to share our experiences about some of the things that went through my head before R2I and how it actually turned out.

* Job and all areas related: I was lucky enough to get an internal transfer with my US employer to our India set-up. Very smooth because I already interacted regularly with the India team so no hassels. Did not have to worry about proving myself here so could spend time settling down and getting back in touch with the realities.

* Accomodation: Moved back into the home I grew up in before I left for the US. Living with my parents which has been a great blessing. A little cramped by US standards but comfortable in a 3BDR with 7 people (2 kids)

* Kids school:
* Daughter is 5 and half years old now. We applied to some schools in the radius of 5KM from our apt here last september - Nov. She had to get admission in Sr. KG. so it was a little rough. mostly kids move straight from Jr KG to Sr KG so there are relatively few vacancies. We were on the waitlist for our top 2 choices. A 3rd asked for a donation of 2L so I cut them out of our list. When we got here in Feb, one of the schools called us and said they would like to meet us. We went and the principal spent a few minutes with our daughter and she got admission into it. We found out later that there was a decent wait list but the school was more interested in filling vacancies with people from diverse background as opposed to deep pockets. The fact that both my wife and I are well educated helped secure the interview and our daughter took it home from there. School has been in session maybe 3 months and we are very happy with the interaction and style of teaching. Fees is about 32,000/yr, one time registration fee of 12,000 plus activity, bus fee etc of 5-6000. SO assuming 40,000/yr overall excluding teh one time.

* My son is 2 so we have him going to a pre-school type thingy (I still don't get the concept of school for a 2 yr old) for 2 hrs everyday where the fee is about 18000/yr.

* Wife's job. My wife gave up her career to join me in the US on a H4. She came close to working there a couple of time but the H1 quota and GC wait prevented gainful employment. She is a CA and completed her CPA there. She started work in 3 weeks of us being back here. She has joined a small firm that is flexible with the needs of parenthood. She is active at the school PTA and is enjoying work.

* Finances:
* What did I leave with: Total savings less than 50L INR. Left my 401K as is (25K$). Plan to roll it into an IRA soon and withdraw over the next couple of years. 7K in a HSA. Will club it with my IRA withdrawals. Rest about 34-35L INR transitioned to India in the 3-4 months preceeding the R2I
* Banking: I had a NRE account at ICICI. I went into their local brach when I got here and the staff was great. Closed the NRE account and moved the money into a residential account. The service from the branch has been consistently good with the staff easy to reach (I have the cell number of 3 of them) and taking the time to make things easy for me.
* Investments: money int he 401K still invest in MFs. Started SIP in 4 MFs in India using FundsIndia (Thanks RRK for your guidance through the forum). Aim to stash about 40K / month into these. 70K / yr PPF for wife and me. 1L / yr into ICIC ACE PRU ULIP (thanks again RRK). 26K/yr for a term insurance policy (ok, this one is protection of family and not investment).
* Spending: I was supporting my parents from the US so the pattern continued. I don't know honestly what our household expenses are. My mom and dad still run it. I know I spend 5K on petrol and about 6-7K on other random stuff (eating out, some shopping etc) per month. Wife spends about 5K. My guess is combined we all take it to 50K/month for household expenses.
* Big items expenses since I got here: 4L or so on a used Honda City and about 5K more to service it so that we have no issues in the short term, 50K for 3 air conditioners around the house. thats about it.
* buying my own palce: Cannot afford it in Mumbai at the current rate. Look at places once in a while, sile when I hear the price and move on.

* Commute: Drive to work. Hadn't driven in India before. Dad coached me on the stick shift. After drivnig for about 100-150Kms, I got decently comfortable. Wife takes public transport to work. She prefers it that way. So far we have had 3 mnor accidents. Once a guys literally jumped in from of my wife when she was driving and elbowed the front windscreen. A nice big crack. Got it replaced. A guy driving a auto scrapped by too close to the driver side side mirror and knocke it off - got it re-fitted. And a third time with my judgement of space on the left side still poor, I scrapped the passanger side mirror to a truck. Busted the mirror. Got it replaced. A ton of other mysterious dings and scratches around the car. Have learnt to be patient. Its not worth getting into a fight with someone who can be a hot head and cause more problems and a 1000rs to fix something.

* Relocation and US Stuff: Company paid for the move and air tickets. I shipped maybe 10 boxes. Mostly clothes, kids toys, books and kitchen stuff.

* Social life: Its mostly family. Live with parents and sister, in-laws are 5 minutes away and we meet every weekend, extended family is huge. A couple of close friends from school are still around.

* Corruption/red tape etc: Haven't faced much of it yet. Yes, getting the DL meant I had to spend an entire day (or 10) but I chose the easy way out. I got an agent because he knew what forms I had to fill and which officers I had to see to get a local license by showing my US license. I paid for his knowledge. Nothing else so far.

The move and settling down have been real easy on us. Moving back to the same place I grew up meant I didn't have to learn about a new palce. My dad has a fantastic network of local businesses and that made everything very easy for the day to day wants and needs. I firmly believe that the big things we worry about like corruption will come to our faces once a year or less. If you can figure out a way to tackle the daily mundane tasks without much stress, it will be very easy. Its the daily grind that causes the stress.


The way I looked at my R2I was if I could come here with 2 bags and build a good life, I can surely go back with a lot more and build a terrific life. Its all about how I tackle it.
My motto in life that helped with R2I (as said by Nana Patekar in Krantiveer): Jasti sochne ka nahi. Jasti sochne se chota dimag dookhta hai (Don't think too much. You'll only get a head-ache)

I haven't really compared things here in Mumbai to things back in the US unless someone has asked me to and I think I can live here or there with no unsurmountable problems. I don't think I can compare them. Each place offered very different things to me. While I had a comfortable life in the US, I have a good life here. I belong in Mumbai.

A big thanks to all the members on this forum. I spend as much time here now as I did before I Red2I.

[rajradio]

great post and welcome back home. You will do very well with your down to earth attitude.

RK

[Sid]

mkngtrbl... Keep it up! Great personal story! My wishes for your family's success.

[BeeAndButterfly]

Very cool. Best wishes to you and your family.

[boca]

Good Luck, mkngtrbl.

Just curious....who is making (mkng) trouble (trbl)? :)

[M V]

Good Luck, mkngtrbl.

Just curious....who is making (mkng) trouble (trbl)? :)

Did you see this:

Something I inherited from a college prof that I never let go - "You are always MaKiNG TRouBLe". I pestered the prof for a while signing off with this code for a couple of years. ...

[MrLong]

You seem to have the right attitude. I wish I can have the same when I R2I. Good Luck.

-M

[Mumbai_2009]

Mkngtrbl,

I can relate very well to you post minus the kids/job part. I agree moving in with parents makes the transition very easy. We started working on our business in a month after R2I, all because of inlaws, didn't have to worry about anything on house front and still we don't. I also sigh on the apartment part. I would still wish to move into a bigger place but can't afford anything in Mumbai as of now.

Keep updating!...

[mkngtrbl]

We got our GC in the craziness of August 2008 when all the dates became current. We had all the paperwork ready and the lawyer the company had engaged was on top of things. A month and half before we left, we applied for a reentry permit (just in case insurance). I had called USCIS and the person I got on the line said we will not need to go for finger-printing since they already have our prints on record...She was wrong. A week before we were to fly out I got a letter with an appointment for 3 weeks out. Went to the ASC and spoke to the manager there if we could come in sometime that week because we were flying out. He rescheduled our appointment and it was done that Friday.

The GC is now going to serve for MFJ on taxes and avail the std deductions and exemptions as I withdraw the IRA. Hope I don't have to use it to R2A.

Kids are USC with PIO. The FRRO website for Mumbai says that minors under 16 don't have to register for stay over 6 months and so I have not gone to get it done.

Next step, get the kids added to parents ration card. Lets see how much of a hassle that turns out to be.

[Mumbai_2009]

Next step, get the kids added to parents ration card. Lets see how much of a hassle that turns out to be.

It is a fairly easy process but not sure for US nationals. I got my name in my inlaws ration card. First I had to get it removed from my parents ration card. My dad did it for me. THey give you a receipt of the name removed. Then submit that receipt along with new form for name addition to the the rationing office where you want the names to be added. You need to pay visit to the rationing office twice. Once for submitting the form and then too collect the Ration card with the new names added. (they will take the ration card when you submit the form). Plan going early in the morning. Even if the opening time is 10:00 these Ration office employees don't show up before 10:30 or so and they close the window at 3:00 or 2:00 pm (don't remember now) and the lines are huge on Mondays and fridays. In my first visit I couldn't get to the window so had to come back again.

No bribe or anything demanded....fairly easy I would say just inconvenience of waiting and 2 visits.