My R2I diary - Bangalore, California or Texas? Anything is possible!!

znan · Post by **znan** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 3:36 am

Background:
Came to US in 2002, Have wife and two kids (7 yrs and 2 yrs), Wife works from home and I work for an audit firm in their management consulting advisory.
Dilemma:
To go back to India or to stay back. Always wanted to go back ? especially when returning from vacation. The longer we stay away from a vacation to India the more we think of the negativities in India (inertia?). Planning to R2I next year end or 2014 School year. Lot of questions on timing.
Primary Deciding Factors:
Family Dynamics:
My wife wants to go back. 7 + years in US has not influenced her stand even by a bit. She feels the need to R2I with the same urgency when she landed in US. My parents also strongly want us to move back. In-laws are fine with whatever we do or wherever we stay. My 7 year old boy does not want to go back ? he cannot understand why the roads are dirty, why there should be water in restroom floor and tons of other questions. Elder brother R2Ied after 11 years in US back in 2009, he is in CA now family is back in India (scary stories). More on this for a later post.
Job Situation:
I feel a decent paying job is a must before we make the move. Talking to friends, reading the dairies makes me draw just one conclusion ? the higher, the better and the grand your job offer/position in India, the better the chances for R2I to go well. Wife does not plan to work once we R2I
Status and Timing:
We will become USC next year. I am working on my resume right now. Planning to post the resume and network starting Jan/Feb?13. Have started browsing schools for a general understanding. However will decide once Job offer is solidified. Planning to R2I for the school year start in 2014.
Diary:
I will try to jot down my experiences in this process as frequently as I face them. My goal is not only to share my experiences but, selfishly, get benefited from the invaluable suggestions/inputs the forum members provide.
Inspirers for my diary: oasis138 & obelixr2i

Old-Spice2 · Post by **Old-Spice2** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 7:35 am

If wife says she wants to r2i, then you must return:). Do not worry about kids, once in India they will get used to it after some initial cribbing. There are lot of positives for kids here and small stuff like wet bathroom will not be an issue after few years.

You need to get a good paying job to survive in the country. You have not mentioned if you own a house in India or how much savings you got. That is very important for a peaceful life.

znan · Post by **znan** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 8:17 am

Thanks Old-Spice2, we are a balancing couple. She is always assertive and confident and I am over-caring and worried a lot all the time :).

Regarding finances I do not have a house in India, I have invested in couple of plots in Bangalore (Doddaballapur, Yelhanka) and couple of land-plots in a tier-3 city. I have a decent bank balance as I have not invested in any major sectors like house. I read on other threads that a savings of 1.5 Cr is good enough. Is that something you concur with too? And how exactly this savings is going to help? Will having a decent paying job not help? Please let me know.

znan · Post by **znan** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 7:14 pm

What worries me with R2I is this.. I just called home and both of my sister's kids are sick with viral fevers. Well kids fall sick natural no big deal, however three kids in their street had Dengue fever and scariest thing is almost 30 kids have fever in their street alone. My sister says it is as if like the entire state is moaning and suffering with these Dengue and viral fevers. Living in a country where we hardly see any mosquitoes and deciding to take kids back to a place which is not only full of mosquitoes but can turn fatal is extreamly scary. This is probably the biggest concern and I am looking for comments from the fellow members. The problem is so high in Delhi and AP, one only wonders why common people do not hold the Govt., bodies accountable?

VS007 · Post by **VS007** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 8:22 pm

znan;476842 .... and deciding to take kids back to a place which is not only full of mosquitoes but can turn fatal is extreamly scary. This is probably the biggest concern and I am looking for comments from the fellow members.

It is scary, very scary, very very very scary. :emcrook:
No wonder Indias population is going down.

[QUOTE]
.... I am looking for comments from the fellow members....
The problem is so high in Delhi and AP, one only wonders why common people do not hold the Govt., bodies accountable?

People did march on streets. Ever heard of Anna's lokapal movement?
One also wonders whether people merely wondered or their family and friends back in India participated. And if not, this wonderful question can best be answered by them.

znan · Post by **znan** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 9:24 pm

VS007, thanks for your reply. I assume you are being sarcastic. I specifically did not check with my family members back in India regarding the Anna's lokpal movement and if they have participated in the march. However, I did ask them about talking to local bodies like municipality officials, office bearers, MLAs etc., specific to the mosquitoe problem, they have suggested to wear long-sleeve shirts and full pants along with buying electric racqet like things which are used for mosquito repelling. If you are in India can you tell me what kind of precautions you take for this specific problem? We are genuinely planning to R2I and taking help of this forum to see the real issues and how to be better prepared for them and your comments are well appreciated.

VS007 · Post by **VS007** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 1:55 am

znan;476847VS007, thanks for your reply. I assume you are being sarcastic. I specifically did not check with my family members back in India regarding the Anna's lokpal movement and if they have participated in the march. However, I did ask them about talking to local bodies like municipality officials, office bearers, MLAs etc., specific to the mosquitoe problem, they have suggested to wear long-sleeve shirts and full pants along with buying electric racqet like things which are used for mosquito repelling. If you are in India can you tell me what kind of precautions you take for this specific problem? We are genuinely planning to R2I and taking help of this forum to see the real issues and how to be better prepared for them and your comments are well appreciated.

buy your apt away from drainage, stagnant water body and lakes and on higher floors.
mosquito nets on doors, windows, bathroom windows and front doors too. That cuts down 90% of mosquitoes. There is an electric bat you get, buy one for ach room and zap it when you hear the buzzing sound. Put odomos and full pants and sleeves on kids going out to play in the evening.

oasis138 · Post by **oasis138** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 8:59 am

You cannot eliminate the threat of mosquitoes but can do some of the following to minimize their threat -

1. where you stay - Try to look for an apartment complex or a villa or the type of place you desire in a relatively newly constructed place. Also do consider the surroundings of the locality. Hopefully no water drains slums etc around it.
2. Higher floors help though they wont eliminate the menace completely.
3. Make sure you keep all windows etc closed between 5-7 in the evening - these are the frequent flying hours for the mosquitoes
4. Try to get an apt/dwelling which gets good amount of sunlight...acts a decent deterrent against mosquitoes.
5. naturally use repellents (some effective ones out there) in rooms during sleeping. These will add ~150 rs/month to your bill.
6. I agree if you have small kids dress them in full sleeves when they go out to play which is around frequent flyer hours. We do the same.
7. It will help if the locality (like ours) sprays repellent every evening. Again wont eliminate 100% but every bit helps.
8. My wife was saying you can get "odomos" which can be applied on a kid's body minus face (kid should be at least 3 or so years of age).
9. Threat of mosquitoes if quite seasonal so have to extra careful in some months.

znan · Post by **znan** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 8:51 pm

oasis138, thank you very much for these suggestions. I follow your posts as a religious routine and you have been an inspiration for me to have started my own diary. We returned from India from a vacation this August and both my kids were having small white patches all over their body - courtesy the design work of mosquitoes. Luckily none of them resulted in any major health concern. But if there are fevers like Dengue out there that's what gets me worried. I am sure like you said they will be fine with proper care and precautions. Thanks again please keep visiting my thread :)

znan · Post by **znan** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 9:43 pm

We are planning to R2I in 2014, my elder kid would be in 3rd grade by then or we have to register him in 3rd grade. I have indications that I might get my promotion (this is a big one I had been trying to get into executive leadership and shed my management tag for over 8 years now) by 2015. Actually according to the way I am doing and my company policies it would be the biggest surprise if I dont get my promotion by 2015. Now my son would be in 4th grade.
My wife says we should go ahead with our R2I plans as it would be tough for my son to adjust in 4th grade vs 3rd grade. She insists I try for the job that I am wanting now itself. I know that is going to be very challenging. The kind of senior roles are hard to find and get a job. I am bit concerned there. Would you please share your thoughts? Many thanks ahead.