Profile - MS in non-IT field, worked 6 years on H-1B , no GC, Single pay check family, no kids,
9 years in USA, returned in May'10, early 30's in age.
Reasons for R2I ? Wanted to start own enterprise, family, relatives, Social life, no GC
Reason to come to US- Earn exposure, liberate brain to the developed world, gain international expertise, earn money, earn US degree, experience what the mother Earth has to offer in US
Financialdetails- Owned a 3BR flat in Hyd (completely paid), :44:a plot, no liabilities, $15K savings
Why chronicle on the forum? - Share experiences, provide insight to other potential R2I'ers, clarify any questions, to help on smooth transition etc. I understand that many of you fall in my profile category of age,background, financial matters etc and thought could help or share my learnings.
Philosophy of life: Balanced attitude is the sure shot for success and happiness. What I mean is if you are unsure of to R2I because of financial, US life style, infrastructure etc but then want to be close to family, relatives, native culture etc then relocate to India and start a business ( other source) to earn money as if you did in US and then frequent the world or US on tours to enjoy both India and out of India at the same time. This is how my philospohy of balance operates on challenges that come to me.
Through out the six years of my work experience (H1B) many of my Indian colleagues suggested me to file GC immediately or else I will be making mistake of going back to India and spoiling of whole life and better chances. But, initial years I resisted without any hesitation and has no doubt in my mind about my decision. So enjoyed all the years in work, travel, friends, married life etc.
Then came the last year which is 6th year. I haven't filed the GC and know has to leave to India.
Then real problem started when dilemma of going back came at my back. Suddenly all questions related to prospects about my work, finanical, and personal came in and confused me. I was feeling doubt that I have made a mistake of not filing a GC in 2003 itself in my first job though my employer was ready to file. But my desire to go back to India is also strong as I wanted to start my own business and that is my dream and goal. My desire about business was much a stronger feeling to me than the feeling about GC but then thought that not enough savings were accumulated to start my own business after R2I.So, started GC work but didn't go lot further because of various reasons like company HR, economy, Boss etc. Finally felt this is the signal that God gave me to go back to India because that is what is your destiny to achieve your goal.
So finally decided to head back to India to pursue my dream. That's how I made the decision of R2I.
The reason I shared my feeling is, I know that is a tough decision and is independent and has no right or wrong or easy solutions. My experience is unique here unlike of some other R2I members here, as they are USC with financial stability and all. I don't have any of these and I know many of other R2I'ers fall in my profile. I came to India with no job also.
Bottomline: Recognize the signals that God gives you while you are debating and getting frustrated to make decsion on R2I.
Next post, I will continue with my R2I planning, transportation,travel etc:confused::confused:
Chronicle of gogreenindia-8 months post R2I
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gogreenindia
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 7:55 am
Chronicle of gogreenindia-8 months post R2I
Eagerly waiting for your next post. Good start op.
Chronicle of gogreenindia-8 months post R2I
Brave...I have seen very few people going back after 6 years of H1. Wish you luck in your business endeavor.
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gogreenindia
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 7:55 am
Chronicle of gogreenindia-8 months post R2I
Thanks rdecartus, picket and all...
Every R2I'er needs a strong motivating feelings,dreams,goals, persons or issues for successful R2I. And fortunately there are many such in India that you can connect to and you can choose one of them that applies to your life experiences. In my case, I have many, one is business goal and never misss a “one-timer “in you life is another to name few.
What I mean “one-timer” is the moments,feelings, experiences,events,functions,occasions etc that happen only once and never again in your life. I missed many “one-timers” during my stay of 9 years in US and felt bad to miss them. But things happen as we can't balance all at a time . Only we have to strive to balance all over the period of time achieving the ones we lost in the past. So, I made up my mind that I should not miss at any cost what ever it is “my father retirement day” and my parents “Shastipurthi” ( A tradition that is celebrated on the 60th B'day of father). These are one-timers and never come again in my life even if I spent $100 K.
My father career is the one that helped me to nourish me in my childhood and all throughout until I started to earn. His job is the one that helped me to gain my education,to go to US, supported financially and helped me to buy all things what I needed. So, I decided in my mind to celebrate his last day of career that is reponsible to lay foundation for what I am today. His 40 years of career (SBI) on which my father spend most of life came to end. It was very emotional to him, my family, his colleagues and friends and finally to me. I felt very proud that I was with him on that one of the most important days of my dad life. That feeling is enough for me to justify my R2I decision. Trust me, the questions and dilemma that our parents face on their retirement day is nothing to what we face in our R2I process. Issues like future old age life, kids will care or not, health, financial and life starting to come end are the ones that crop and can't explain how they deal with that.
Next one-timer is the function “Shastipurthi” after retirement. Again, another proud moment for me to be on that day and to lead it. My siblings ,relatives, friends and all enjoyed on that day and I am sure that “soul fun” I can't get it in Disney,Las Vegas,Europe, Ooty,or any where in the world. Another event that justified my R2I decision.
So, now since I shared my rationality on R2I decisions and justified it, now I will share my execution of transition process. I know this particular topic is quite hammered here and so I will be brief.
In my next post, I will share my intersting experiences in India and a book that I read that changed my attitude/thought process. I will deal with problems in India, funny experiences, emotional feelings and all... Hope you all will have fun....
Every R2I'er needs a strong motivating feelings,dreams,goals, persons or issues for successful R2I. And fortunately there are many such in India that you can connect to and you can choose one of them that applies to your life experiences. In my case, I have many, one is business goal and never misss a “one-timer “in you life is another to name few.
What I mean “one-timer” is the moments,feelings, experiences,events,functions,occasions etc that happen only once and never again in your life. I missed many “one-timers” during my stay of 9 years in US and felt bad to miss them. But things happen as we can't balance all at a time . Only we have to strive to balance all over the period of time achieving the ones we lost in the past. So, I made up my mind that I should not miss at any cost what ever it is “my father retirement day” and my parents “Shastipurthi” ( A tradition that is celebrated on the 60th B'day of father). These are one-timers and never come again in my life even if I spent $100 K.
My father career is the one that helped me to nourish me in my childhood and all throughout until I started to earn. His job is the one that helped me to gain my education,to go to US, supported financially and helped me to buy all things what I needed. So, I decided in my mind to celebrate his last day of career that is reponsible to lay foundation for what I am today. His 40 years of career (SBI) on which my father spend most of life came to end. It was very emotional to him, my family, his colleagues and friends and finally to me. I felt very proud that I was with him on that one of the most important days of my dad life. That feeling is enough for me to justify my R2I decision. Trust me, the questions and dilemma that our parents face on their retirement day is nothing to what we face in our R2I process. Issues like future old age life, kids will care or not, health, financial and life starting to come end are the ones that crop and can't explain how they deal with that.
Next one-timer is the function “Shastipurthi” after retirement. Again, another proud moment for me to be on that day and to lead it. My siblings ,relatives, friends and all enjoyed on that day and I am sure that “soul fun” I can't get it in Disney,Las Vegas,Europe, Ooty,or any where in the world. Another event that justified my R2I decision.
So, now since I shared my rationality on R2I decisions and justified it, now I will share my execution of transition process. I know this particular topic is quite hammered here and so I will be brief.
Sold all the big furntiture
Sold the car – one thing to share here- It is smart to keep Ads in cities where there is large Indian population and that will make sure to sell the car quickly. I am from Buffalo, NY and I sold mine in Pittsburgh, PA. I advertised for 1 month in Buffalo to all without any takers but could sold within 1 week in Pittsburgh. I have got good resale value too. I thought I made a smart move and want to suggest you guys too in other cities.
Packed all my stuff myself. I have used Home depot boxes, U-Haul bubble wraps, packing paper,peanuts and gun. Home depot boxes are very sturdy and all of them are very fine till they reached final destination. Other accesories I mentioned very neccessary and will help you to receive your stuff safely. I would say I got 95% of my goods in the same way I last saw them. The 5% are some chinaware, glass frames, decoration pieces etc. Nothing expensive.
My LCD TV , home theather and other electronics also reached safely. I have used original box and suggest you to do the same. I wrapped 3 sheets of bubble wrap onto the screen and on backside of screen and then with packing paper. The wrapped screen is then loaded into the orignial box with thermocoal protection to prevent any vibrations. Then I tied the whole box with a nice rope for more stability and safety.
Make you own excel sheets for Identification,classification and labeling of your goods. You need to share this for customs at both US (shipper will take care) and in India also for custom related reasons. Mark your boxes with serial numbers and then write down what all items did you put in the box. And then estimate the worth of the goods in the box. On each boxes, you could stick a label with both your source and destination address, name and then your shipper tracking #. This will help you incase goods are lost and also helps the shipper as it has tracking # also.
Don't pay the shipper the whole money until you receive your invoice . The invoice will take couple of days and by then you may have already left the country. In my case, I left the country next day after my goods were left from my home. So I received invoice after 4-5 days and then I did e-transfer of my funds to shipper account. I used Sky2C and I am satisfied with the company. Only thing they could improve is their follow up process. We have to chase them for follow-up and ask them where are my goods, what is the delivery date etc and then they are prompt to answer all our questions in mail. I wish they could do that on their own and be proactive as R2I'er would be very busy in initial weeks/months and will not have time to follow up.
My customs process in India was smooth and no surprises.
In my next post, I will share my intersting experiences in India and a book that I read that changed my attitude/thought process. I will deal with problems in India, funny experiences, emotional feelings and all... Hope you all will have fun....
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gogreenindia
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 7:55 am
Chronicle of gogreenindia-8 months post R2I
One of the experiences I had after R2I was visiting my native mandal/town. I have my school friends still there, my school where I graduated 10th class and my teachers. I met my friends after a long time and we shared our childhood memories, introduced me to their better halfs,ate at places that we ate during our school days. Their wifes very curious and were asking me all questions about their husbands and their naughty things in school life. It was dream come true for me to experience these feelings.
Our principal who aged now felt very happy that we remembered him now and for visiting him. He felt proud too to know about our achievements and how we settled in our careers. We felt happy too to see his eyes beaming in proud about his students.
Something special about my friend. He is not like most of the herd who goes to work and come back to home after work i.e 9-6 job work. He is into business and expanded his father's business and earning crores of ruppees. He never had dreams to go to US and do MS , work there get GC or USC. He is much happy here and actually leading better life than most people. He has all power in the town( father is now politician), lot of workers who work for him,full luxuries (stunned to see he has split AC's in all his rooms in that small town), a big bunglaw and all amenities that we enjoy in US homes. He got all these without even going to US and earn in $. I felt is it neccessary for one to go to US for money when people like my friend are minting money by being in India itself.
I didn't have any grudge on my friend and was happy to see him in his position. He is my best friend and I shared all my feelings and he just laughed. He said you enjoyed US life for 9 years and so be happy for that and I didn't get that chance.
It's all in our journey and how best we use the environement around us to achieve what we want to.
Our principal who aged now felt very happy that we remembered him now and for visiting him. He felt proud too to know about our achievements and how we settled in our careers. We felt happy too to see his eyes beaming in proud about his students.
Something special about my friend. He is not like most of the herd who goes to work and come back to home after work i.e 9-6 job work. He is into business and expanded his father's business and earning crores of ruppees. He never had dreams to go to US and do MS , work there get GC or USC. He is much happy here and actually leading better life than most people. He has all power in the town( father is now politician), lot of workers who work for him,full luxuries (stunned to see he has split AC's in all his rooms in that small town), a big bunglaw and all amenities that we enjoy in US homes. He got all these without even going to US and earn in $. I felt is it neccessary for one to go to US for money when people like my friend are minting money by being in India itself.
I didn't have any grudge on my friend and was happy to see him in his position. He is my best friend and I shared all my feelings and he just laughed. He said you enjoyed US life for 9 years and so be happy for that and I didn't get that chance.
It's all in our journey and how best we use the environement around us to achieve what we want to.
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gogreenindia
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 7:55 am
Chronicle of gogreenindia-8 months post R2I
:angry:I want to share one paradox that is widely prevalent in India. And that is, In India quite there are many people who are poor and do not have job to meet basic needs also. But, at the same time if you want to give job to someone actually desperate to help someone by giving job and even then you will not be able to find one to do that job or will not be interested to do job.
I am very environmental conscious person (thanks to my awareness in US) and you could see my passion even in my profile id in this forum. So, decided to hire a maid for washing our clothes as I want to have minimum footprint on environment in washing my clothes. Washing machines consume high power, water and then power for drying when we have solar power for free. Besides, I want to be socially responsible also to hire someone who is dire need of job (especially with high inflation in India). I also respect dignity of labor.
I have changed 4 persons in 2 months because none would want to stay though I complied to pay what they asked as pay. I have even waited for someone to take the job, by washing my clothes ( used to it in bachelorhood) literally every consecutive day.
I was so frustrated that I was not successfull with my noble intention. Finally, still in vain and could not take anymore burden , I have decided to go and buy an automatic machine. I am still using natural dryer and using washing machine just for washing clothes.
This is the problem in India to find a person and offer a job to him/her and at the same time there are crores of the people who are waiting for Govt help to meet their needs or not even that and just begging on streets or just ostracized.
By the way, I am planning to align my business interests also on the lines of my environmental passion. One day, in future my aim is to start successfull and sustainable business that solves one environmental problem in our India. I have many ideas but working on to find how I can translate them in workable business plan.
Will be continued more... on my next post... Keep interactive with my chronicle and share you opinions/suggestions/insights etc
I am very environmental conscious person (thanks to my awareness in US) and you could see my passion even in my profile id in this forum. So, decided to hire a maid for washing our clothes as I want to have minimum footprint on environment in washing my clothes. Washing machines consume high power, water and then power for drying when we have solar power for free. Besides, I want to be socially responsible also to hire someone who is dire need of job (especially with high inflation in India). I also respect dignity of labor.
I have changed 4 persons in 2 months because none would want to stay though I complied to pay what they asked as pay. I have even waited for someone to take the job, by washing my clothes ( used to it in bachelorhood) literally every consecutive day.
I was so frustrated that I was not successfull with my noble intention. Finally, still in vain and could not take anymore burden , I have decided to go and buy an automatic machine. I am still using natural dryer and using washing machine just for washing clothes.
This is the problem in India to find a person and offer a job to him/her and at the same time there are crores of the people who are waiting for Govt help to meet their needs or not even that and just begging on streets or just ostracized.
By the way, I am planning to align my business interests also on the lines of my environmental passion. One day, in future my aim is to start successfull and sustainable business that solves one environmental problem in our India. I have many ideas but working on to find how I can translate them in workable business plan.
Will be continued more... on my next post... Keep interactive with my chronicle and share you opinions/suggestions/insights etc
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LotsOfRokda
- Posts: 204
- Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:48 pm
Chronicle of gogreenindia-8 months post R2I
gogreenindia;366363:angry:I want to share one paradox that is widely prevalent in India. And that is, In India quite there are many people who are poor and do not have job to meet basic needs also. But, at the same time if you want to give job to someone actually desperate to help someone by giving job and even then you will not be able to find one to do that job or will not be interested to do job.
I am very environmental conscious person (thanks to my awareness in US) and you could see my passion even in my profile id in this forum. So, decided to hire a maid for washing our clothes as I want to have minimum footprint on environment in washing my clothes. Washing machines consume high power, water and then power for drying when we have solar power for free. Besides, I want to be socially responsible also to hire someone who is dire need of job (especially with high inflation in India). I also respect dignity of labor.
I have changed 4 persons in 2 months because none would want to stay though I complied to pay what they asked as pay. I have even waited for someone to take the job, by washing my clothes ( used to it in bachelorhood) literally every consecutive day.
I was so frustrated that I was not successfull with my noble intention. Finally, still in vain and could not take anymore burden , I have decided to go and buy an automatic machine. I am still using natural dryer and using washing machine just for washing clothes.
This is the problem in India to find a person and offer a job to him/her and at the same time there are crores of the people who are waiting for Govt help to meet their needs or not even that and just begging on streets or just ostracized.
By the way, I am planning to align my business interests also on the lines of my environmental passion. One day, in future my aim is to start successfull and sustainable business that solves one environmental problem in our India. I have many ideas but working on to find how I can translate them in workable business plan.
Will be continued more... on my next post... Keep engaged with my chronicle and share you opinions/suggestions/insights etc
looks like the definition of poverty will change soon, from no food, water and shelter to no mobile, internet and computer. I have seen this in my recent visits too. Slums are 2 storey with marble countertops, refridgerators inside and the second storey is rented. All the best in your endeavours.
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gogreenindia
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 7:55 am
Chronicle of gogreenindia-8 months post R2I
LotsOfRokda;366380looks like the definition of poverty will change soon, from no food, water and shelter to no mobile, internet and computer. I have seen this in my recent visits too. Slums are 2 storey with marble countertops, refridgerators inside and the second storey is rented. All the best in your endeavours.
Actually, i think the upper class within the poor citizens are benefited with economy boom. But middle class and lower class of poor sections are still suffering and left out.
I have seen many times in newspapers, about articles by distinguished industrialists about labor shortage in India in coming years. I can't stop laughing when I see such articles. Again, a paradox in I+ billion populated India.
I want to share my experiences on peril of customer service in India by giving some real time experiences.....
Chronicle of gogreenindia-8 months post R2I
gogreenindia,
Wish you good luck. Please post your experience with starting new business, the processes, finding employees etc..
Wish you good luck. Please post your experience with starting new business, the processes, finding employees etc..
Chronicle of gogreenindia-8 months post R2I
very impressive. I like your spunky attitude. keep it up. wish you all the best.
RK
RK