R2A Experiences - Return to America !

delhir2i · Post by **delhir2i** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:47 pm

This forum has been a fantastic source of information for R2I planning and execution. With all the due dilligence in R2I planning and execution there would have been situations where an individual or family would have contemplated R2A. The purpose of this thread is to share such experiences.

I went to USA in 1997 just a year after completion of my BTech. The country provided a solid foundation for me to excel personally and professionally. Like anyone else I had my fair share of success and failures. I R2I'ed in February 2009 to Delhi (native place) after having spent 12 years in USA. I didn't return with huge savings, but with a rich professional experience. Being in Delhi with parents and siblings provided great emotional satisfaction and after a while I thoroughly enjoyed all the festivals and rituals. During last two years I got married to a nice person and was also blessed with a baby girl last year. Professionally I head Engineering for one of the software product companies in Noida and compensation is also very reasonable (~40 lacs). Some people might wonder that why I am starting a R2A thread. Now the challenging part, what I have observed and experienced in India that till everything in life is on a straight path and the support system (relatives, infrastructure or government) is not tested there are no issues. Once some trouble (self initiated or a forced situation) hits an individual, the system fails and often miserably. There is no sense of security. Corruption is rampant, inefficiencies of private institutions are surprising. One can never be sure if the work will get done in time with the desired outcome. I was born and raised in Delhi so I am well versed with corruption, government bureaucracy etc. What I last saw in 1997 and what I see today individual values have degraded miserably. For an individual who takes a strong stand for discipline, ethics and self-respect this place is difficult to adjust and surrvive.

I am done with my rambling for today. At this juncture (almost 36 years old) I am contemplating R2A by 2012.

vizagdesi · Post by **vizagdesi** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 11:51 pm

What pushed you to US in 1997: Money

What pushed you to India in 2009: Family

What is pushing you to US in 2012: Money + desire to give a cleaner life to the next gen

The way I see it is that kids getting raised in the US are not doing anything exceptional that kids raised in India could not do. All of us are examples of that. And I don't think it would change for the next gen either.

But if I raise the kids in India, it will save 3 gens (parents, us and kids) from unncessary struggles. And the added by-product is that the kids can operate in dual cultures easily. In the long term, this could be a very valuable advantage. Our counterparts who were born and brought-up completely in US would have a difficult time to live and work in India and most likely do not have any strong cultural connections to India. But we (born & brought-up in India) can easily work both in India and the West. This may not be a significant advantage for our generation because of limited opportunities that put a high value on such ability. But for next gen, where India and China become significant global players, and with cultures that are significantly different from US/West, that ability could be very highly useful.

So, in the end, when it comes to raising kids, I am seeing a potential advantage in India with no distinct downside. US on the otherhand does not have any upside or downside.

rajradio · Post by **rajradio** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 11:57 pm

delhir2i;362851This forum has been a fantastic source of information for R2I planning and execution. With all the due dilligence in R2I planning and execution there would have been situations where an individual or family would have contemplated R2A. The purpose of this thread is to share such experiences.

I went to USA in 1997 just a year after completion of my BTech. The country provided a solid foundation for me to excel personally and professionally. Like anyone else I had my fair share of success and failures. I R2I'ed in February 2009 to Delhi (native place) after having spent 12 years in USA. I didn't return with huge savings, but with a rich professional experience. Being in Delhi with parents and siblings provided great emotional satisfaction and after a while I thoroughly enjoyed all the festivals and rituals. During last two years I got married to a nice person and was also blessed with a baby girl last year. Professionally I head Engineering for one of the software product companies in Noida and compensation is also very reasonable (~40 lacs). Some people might wonder that why I am starting a R2A thread. Now the challenging part, what I have observed and experienced in India that till everything in life is on a straight path and the support system (relatives, infrastructure or government) is not tested there are no issues. Once some trouble (self initiated or a forced situation) hits an individual, the system fails and often miserably. There is no sense of security. Corruption is rampant, inefficiencies of private institutions are surprising. One can never be sure if the work will get done in time with the desired outcome. I was born and raised in Delhi so I am well versed with corruption, government bureaucracy etc. What I last saw in 1997 and what I see today individual values have degraded miserably. For an individual who takes a strong stand for discipline, ethics and self-respect this place is difficult to adjust and surrvive.

I am done with my rambling for today. At this juncture (almost 36 years old) I am contemplating R2A by 2012.

wish you luck, atleast you tried. R2Iis not for everyone. R2I has to be in your DNA. There is no pros and cons on how genetic make up is, same is the case with R2I.

There are as we speak millions of Indians who are disciplined, honest, ethical and yet very happy in their zone. That you could not adjust to that, might need some introspection on your part. wish you luck wherever you are.

RK

VS007 · Post by **VS007** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:30 am

vizagdesi;362865
What is pushing you to US in 2012: Money + desire to give a cleaner life to the next gen

And whats wrong with that? In fact OP said it best:
"For an individual who takes a strong stand for discipline, ethics and self-respect this place is difficult to adjust and surrvive."

vizagdesi · Post by **vizagdesi** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:39 am

VS007;362873And whats wrong with that? In fact OP said it best:
"For an individual who takes a strong stand for discipline, ethics and self-respect this place is difficult to adjust and surrvive."

Did I say that something is wrong with that or did you just ASSume that?

ymb · Post by **ymb** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 1:53 am

All the best in whatever decision you make... these things are so tough and determined by individual circumstance and I certainly do not mean to generalize.
But I just wanted to add that I agree with Vizagdesi - in my opinion, the 'human/emotional cost' of emigration for the 3 generations is very high... with the rise of India (maybe slower that the hype but definitely rising), the risk/benefit ratio may not be advantageous, esp for future generations.

returning_indian · Post by **returning_indian** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 2:05 am

vizagdesi;362865What is pushing you to US in 2012: Money + desire to give a cleaner life to the next gen

Even when making 40lacs in India?

okonomi · Post by **okonomi** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 5:58 am

returning_indian;362910Even when making 40lacs in India?

America is cheaper for the 40lac/year kinda person when he gets an equivalent job. :cry: I think it is the onion shortage that is pushing people over the edge to R2A - "A" stands for Anywhere.

honsum · Post by **honsum** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 5:59 am

vigazdesi,

A very different point you mentioned here. I too feel that we (born & brought-up in India) can work in both culture but kids born and brought up here will have tough time if they have to work in India.

vizagdesi;362865What pushed you to US in 1997: Money

What pushed you to India in 2009: Family

What is pushing you to US in 2012: Money + desire to give a cleaner life to the next gen

The way I see it is that kids getting raised in the US are not doing anything exceptional that kids raised in India could not do. All of us are examples of that. And I don't think it would change for the next gen either.

But if I raise the kids in India, it will save 3 gens (parents, us and kids) from unncessary struggles. And the added by-product is that the kids can operate in dual cultures easily. In the long term, this could be a very valuable advantage. Our counterparts who were born and brought-up completely in US would have a difficult time to live and work in India and most likely do not have any strong cultural connections to India. But we (born & brought-up in India) can easily work both in India and the West. This may not be a significant advantage for our generation because of limited opportunities that put a high value on such ability. But for next gen, where India and China become significant global players, and with cultures that are significantly different from US/West, that ability could be very highly useful.

So, in the end, when it comes to raising kids, I am seeing a potential advantage in India with no distinct downside. US on the otherhand does not have any upside or downside.

delhir2i · Post by **delhir2i** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:26 am

Thanks for your response. Yes desire to have a bit more predictable and smooth life is the key factor for R2A in 2012. The points mentioned by you about raising kids in India are very logical and would require introspection on my part. One thing though, how we were raised by our Parents in India vs. raising our kids today is very different given the current social makeup and media influence.

vizagdesi;362865What pushed you to US in 1997: Money

What pushed you to India in 2009: Family

What is pushing you to US in 2012: Money + desire to give a cleaner life to the next gen

The way I see it is that kids getting raised in the US are not doing anything exceptional that kids raised in India could not do. All of us are examples of that. And I don't think it would change for the next gen either.

But if I raise the kids in India, it will save 3 gens (parents, us and kids) from unncessary struggles. And the added by-product is that the kids can operate in dual cultures easily. In the long term, this could be a very valuable advantage. Our counterparts who were born and brought-up completely in US would have a difficult time to live and work in India and most likely do not have any strong cultural connections to India. But we (born & brought-up in India) can easily work both in India and the West. This may not be a significant advantage for our generation because of limited opportunities that put a high value on such ability. But for next gen, where India and China become significant global players, and with cultures that are significantly different from US/West, that ability could be very highly useful.

So, in the end, when it comes to raising kids, I am seeing a potential advantage in India with no distinct downside. US on the otherhand does not have any upside or downside.