Ten Tips for Returning NRIs

chillibreeze writer — Sarika Narang

NRI: Our Return to India ISBN 978-81-904055-9-1 Released JULY 2008 142 pages, US$16.99

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Experiences of professionals, wives, mothers and sons, who have returned to India, give a realistic picture about living in India. Personal stories are supplemented with information resources to make this a must buy for anyone planning to relocate.

“The world is a great book, of which they who never stir from home read only a page”, as said by St. Augustine. One of the most interesting life experiences is living in another country, learning about their culture, and making new friends. One would think that coming home would be simple-after all the culture is familiar, and so are the basic functions of moving back into one's home, enrolling children in school, and the like. However, going home is also relocation, just like moving abroad and you will face many challenges doing so.

Born in an army officer’s house, I have always been on the move every few years. It was certainly an amazing, enriching, exciting experience for me as a child. Things changed when I was on the move once again after getting married (we have never completed 2 years in any city). We are currently in the US. We will need to return to India some day for personal reasons. Whatever your reasons for heading back to India, I hope these tips will help you transition back home smoothly.

When to move

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“Rain, rain, pour down, but not a drop on our town.” Monsoon (June to September) is not the time to move, especially in cities, which experience heavy rains. Schooling for kids will also be an important factor to plan your move. Most schools in India follow the June to April calendar. Summer (March to May) might be a little hot, but probably the best time to move as it gives you ample time to search for homes, decide on the school, and settle down before the new session starts.

Choosing the appropriate city

Each city in India is so unique and has different things to offer. It surely is a tough decision, something we ponder about each day! Bangalore has been a hot favorite for the NRIs but seems to be taking a back seat to Hyderabad when it comes to infrastructure and planning. Smaller cities like Pune, Kochi, Nagpur, and Chandigarh rank high among many locals for a better quality of life. You will have to consider things like civic amenities, quality of life, cost of living, and weather among other personal factors.

Shipping goods to India

The eternal question is “what to move”. If your company is paying for the transfer, take as much as you can. We did so when we moved to the US, and the new house turned into a home instantly. Avoid taking any groceries as most of the cities cater to tastes developed by the NRIs! If you are limited in space, I would suggest you relocate with whatever you do not readily get in India e.g. specific kitchen items, kids’ toys, linen for king size beds, and may be electronics (you can buy the voltage converters in India).

Living close to family

The most rewarding part about moving back to India is being close to family and relatives. Well, that has its pros and cons. Your social life will revolve around family events like birthdays, weddings, mundans, and sadly even deaths. It feels nice initially since you have been away for so long, but can get a little overwhelming if you have got used to your independence. The good part is that your kids get to interact with and learn Indian values from our elders - surely a priceless gift.

Choosing the right school

When we moved back from Singapore to Hyderabad, we realized that the basic facilities in the local schools, no matter how good they are academically, are inferior to what kids are used to abroad. Therefore, we put our son in an International school, which not only had better facilities, but also gave you the option of switching to IB curriculum in a senior class. Most of the big schools have their own website, so you can do your research before moving and zero down on a few schools based on your requirements.

Renting versus buying a house

Property and rental prices are skyrocketing in all metros and class B cities in India. The big question is should I buy a house or stay in a rental property? We know of friends who sold off everything in the US and moved back to India, only to pack their bags and return to the US after a year. Maintaining property or renting it out while you are not living in the same city, let alone the same country, is not an easy task. Hence, my recommendation is to rent for the first year and purchase something once you are sure you are in India for good.

Deciding where to stay

Choose the community in which you would like to buy or rent the house wisely. We always have a list of things that matter to us e.g. play area for the kids, gym, pool, proximity to school, office, neighborhood, availability of international groceries, food etc.

Get hold of local help

First, visit a friendly neighbor and get the phone numbers of the plumber, electrician, repairperson, dhobi (your own washer of clothes!), milkman, iron man(person to iron your clothes) etc. While in India, do what most Indians do – outsource all possible menial jobs. This is by far the best part about getting back to India. I always tell my husband, I will go to any place on earth, even Timbuktu, as long as I can take my domestic help with me.

Buying cars

“We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities.” - Oscar Wilde. In India, it is nice to have more than one car but not really a necessity, unlike the US. However, do purchase a high segment car as the biggest cars there probably compare to the small or mid size categories here. So, while your friends in India may gasp in horror if you plan to purchase a Toyota Corolla, remember the Corolla is still a very small car compared to what you drive here.

Enjoy the luxury of catching up on your reading or sleeping while the driver drives you around the city, battling the horrendous traffic. The kids will use the school bus. Please do not explore driving yourself for the first few months, as it is not worth the risk.

Shopping in India

You will have to pick up some basic stuff once you reach India like household electronics, furniture, AC’s etc. My suggestion would be to pick up the best that is available in the market. I wish we had more stringent QA in place for basic commodities too. The best that you will pick up in India will compare to average quality in the US.

You can prepare yourself to make the most successful transition by planning and by recognizing the challenges, you will face. After all, it is worth it. As Homer said, “I, for one, know of no sweeter sight for a man's eyes than his own country.”

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—About our writer:

Sarika writes for chillibreeze.

 

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