Tips for Parents Visiting their
NRI Children

chillibreeze writer — Surbhi Kumar

When it comes to going abroad, especially the U.S there is a certain amount of awe involved. Yes, even today, when almost every family in India has a relative in the U.S or working abroad. Yet, there is ignorance of the life there.

The best tips I can think of giving to parents traveling to U.S for the first time would be these-

1. The parents have to be vigilant while traveling. Indians, especially Indian women, have a tendency to chatter away with the first person they meet. If it is an Indian even better! Well, no harm in that. The tip is, do not hold their luggage for them. Do not carry their bags or watch it. At the same time watch your luggage carefully and do not trust it to anyone even when going to the rest room. Take it with you. The stalls are big enough.

2. Never assume that their kids would have a lot of time for them just because they will be living with them. Even their grand children have things to do, a schedule to meet. Life is busy and fastpaced and to earn and do well, people have to work hard and long so that means being away from home a lot.

3. Think of things to do in the spare 8-10 hrs you will have everyday. Women could get their knitting or sewing kits, Indian magazines or books to read in their own language. Go for long walks if the weather permits. Fathers could think of photography. Parents could get books on hobbies like origami to do at home and also teach their grandchildren as a bonding exercise. Mothers could get recipe books to try out new dishes for their kids.

If the parents have access to the kind of resources to learn how to use the Internet it is a huge bonus for them. They are able to communicate with people back home and it is cheaper for their children in the U.S as voice chatting through the Internet is far cheaper and parents get a longer time to talk as per their own convenience. The biggest negative for for parents is boredom. The parents have to come prepared to deal with that.

4. Depending on weather conditions parents will have to come prepared with their apparel. Be warned though, sweaters will not cut it in the U.S. The wind is cold and fierce in winter. To defend yourself you need warm jackets and boots. The best option would be to either get your leather jackets from India, or better still get them here or get your children to buy them for you at sale time at Christmas before you arrive. Try not to get cotton clothes if you are going to a cold place. You could get a lot of inner thermal wear though, to wear inside your clothes if you have to wear cotton.

5. Parents have to be prepared to do a lot of house hold chores in the U.S. Unlike India, there are no maids to come and do the little things like cleaning and doing dishes. One has to be willing to lend in a hand in daily chores.

6. It serves well for most Indian parents to have knowledge of the English language. The U.S is primarily an English speaking country and the parents who come down here for the first time, and don’t speak English suffer far more as they can't even say hello to their neighbors, unless they are Indians too.

7. Parents should get all their medical check ups and treatments done before they arrive in the U.S. If they need any kind of medication, they should carry enough to last through their stay with their prescription. Medical treatments are expensive in the U.S and travelers’ insurance are only for huge emergencies.

8. Carry two pairs of glasses. Yes sir! Spectacles are an expensive commodity in the U.S.

Now there is the innate need for mothers to carry food articles for their children under the assumption that it could not possibly be available anywhere else! Well, it is Ma!

9. Don’t pack your suitcases with food items. Especially fruits or vegetables! It is against the law to get things like that into the U.S. Indian grocery stores in the U.S also have pickle, but if you want your children to have homemade pickles, come to the U.S and make it. It will also give you something to do in your spare time.

10. One thing that comes in handy is a driver’s permit. If the parents drive in India they could drive in the U.S. They have to pass a driving test and a written test. It sounds scary but it's not. It helps one get around more. They could also pick up their grand children from school then. (That’s an incentive!)

To adapt is the best way for parents to have a successful stay in the U.S. If they keep an open mind and are ready to try out new things they can enjoy more, relax and have fun.

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article.

—About our writer:
Surbhi says, "I have been an NRI most of my life. Born in India, brought up for 15 years in Africa, then moved back to India and now living in U.S for the past 2 years. Have seen a lot of the world and have come to understand only one thing- "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."-by Robert Frost.

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