Yet another R2I diary - Bay Area to Bangalore

Dulce_le_leche · Post by **Dulce_le_leche** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:26 pm

I have been meaning to write our experiences for a while now. It is a year since we returned to Bangalore.

Background :
I have been in the US for 12years. Hubby went there for his masters and started working right after. Has been in the US for 16 years. We have 2 kids - aged 10 and 8. All of us are US citizens with OCI.

We both are originally from Bangalore. We have always wanted to be back - but like most people - it was a +1 syndrome from 2007 onwards. Since my kids were becoming older, we wanted to do it sooner than later and took a decision to move in Nov '09. We started conversations with our managers and started looking at groups internally that had a presence in Bangalore.

Process :
We both work in the software field (in the same company). It was relatively easy to get a position in Bangalore, since the company has a sizable presence in Bangalore. However, it took longer than expected for the paperwork to be completed and for them to give an official go-ahead. We got the letter early May and booked our one-way tickets for the 28th of May.

School:
We wanted to kids to go to a CBSE school (I don't have anything against International schools - I wanted the kids to grow up with the locals and connect with them). We applied to a couple of schools with the help of my mother. The entrance exams were in April and thankfully, both of them got into the school we liked.

We went back after the entrance exams and got the official letter in May. We started our packing, shopping, disposing, donating, selling spree after that and shipped out the container by 25th of May. We landed in Bangalore on the 30th of May 2010.

Initial few days:
School started 3 days after landing. Kids didn't like it much initially. They thought the teachers were too loud and the classmates too rude. They got bullied too. They didn't like the noise, they were afraid of the street dogs (they still are), they didn't know how to cross the street, couldn't speak/understand the local language, didn't quite comprehend why there were powercuts and why people deal with it.

However... they are much much better now. They can deal with most things. They enjoy meeting their relatives and attending functions.
They have some friends now. They enjoy going to school and the ride on the school bus. They love playing cricket outside.

After a year:
There are things we enjoy and things we don't. No two days have the same schedule and life is very unpredictable here. We are settled in comfortably. We have a home, good food, people who matter to us closeby, mangoes, good work-culture, good weather, a maid, a driver, festivals, functions etc. However, we miss the greenery, the library, ample-time-on-our-hands, costco, time to research/plan vacations, access to highly accomplished/dedicated teachers (for sitar, bharathanatyam, music etc - who are dime a dozen in the bay area).

I realize I have a ton to share and I haven't really been able to put everything down. Let me know if you need info on anything specific. I am happy to help you out.

Cheers and wishing you the very best in your journey!

SriniSri · Post by **SriniSri** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 6:31 am

Congratulations on your move and good to know that kids got adjusted.

We are planning to move to Hyd early 2013, still long time. We have 2 boys and they will go to 3rd and 2nd grade when we move. I have read in other threads that kids will have hard time duing the initial days. My concern is that can I manage/take care and provide proper support to both the kids at the same time. so, wondering how was it for you taking care of 10 and 8yr old at the same time?

Thanks,
Sri

back2desh · Post by **back2desh** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 7:34 am

We returned last year with 2 boys (4th and 1st grade now in 5th and 2nd grade), kids will get adjusted must faster than us, make sure that the place where you live in India, there are few kids of your kids age and make sure that they play with them that's it in a very short period of time they will get adjusted quickly! It worked for us and now both my kids never talk about US :)

SriniSri;396747Congratulations on your move and good to know that kids got adjusted.

We are planning to move to Hyd early 2013, still long time. We have 2 boys and they will go to 3rd and 2nd grade when we move. I have read in other threads that kids will have hard time duing the initial days. My concern is that can I manage/take care and provide proper support to both the kids at the same time. so, wondering how was it for you taking care of 10 and 8yr old at the same time?

Thanks,
Sri

Dulce_le_leche · Post by **Dulce_le_leche** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 9:57 pm

It was easier to take care of the younger one with regard to school work. She was in 2nd grade when we moved. At that level, they can manage pretty well by themselves. The only part that needed a lot of attention was Hindi for my older one (who was in 5th). We had to sit with him for a few months, till he got a hang of it.
We had the luxury of having help from my mother for after-school care. I have a few other friends who have moved that have a nanny at home to tend to the kids after they are back from school/playhome. It is difficult to get reliable care, but not impossible.

Also, as 'back2desh' says - it hugely helps if there are other kids, in the same age group, to play with. Here they play outside for more time than they did in the US (without constant adult supervision/hovering :) )

back2desh · Post by **back2desh** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 9:44 am

Dulce_le_leche;396843
Also, as 'back2desh' says - it hugely helps if there are other kids, in the same age group, to play with. Here they play outside for more time than they did in the US (without constant adult supervision/hovering :) )

This is one of the greatest benefit of being in India, my kids everyday go out and play with neighbor kids and comeback in the evening. We don't have to worry at all :) This is something I could never imagine doing in US.

poofygoogle · Post by **poofygoogle** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 7:31 pm

Totally agree. Its a pleasure to see them cycle, play cricket, Table tennis etc. The advantages of being in a gated community are many...

bostonr2i · Post by **bostonr2i** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 8:34 pm

So true....about kids playing outside..unimaginable in USA.

we2india · Post by **we2india** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 2:27 am

Which school the kids are going ? What was the criteria to in selecting the school ? How is the fees structure ?

karthikkk · Post by **karthikkk** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 11:45 am

canu share which school the kids got into. I want to R2I in May 2012 and am in India talking to few schools. All ofthem are pretty negative about seats for second grade(my daughter will be in secodn grade). Please share teh details on what you had to do for getting school seats for kids.

Thanks.