life in bangalore after r2i (for someone who is not from bangalore area)

columbus · Post by **columbus** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:57 am

I had some questions regarding life in bangalore after r2i.

I am from Gujarat, have studied and worked in US for the past 9 years. I am planning to return to India sometime in future. Bangalore is my preferred city of return.

One of the reasons for my R2I is proximity to relatives and a chance for my kids to experience social life in India. Most of my relatives are not in or around Bangalore. My parents have agreed to stay with us in Bangalore when we return.

My question is related to the sense of satisfaction of having returned to one's roots. Can this be achieved for somebody in my place? Is it possible to attain r2i satisfaction for someone like me (not from Bangalore) returning to the city of Bangalore? I realize that this is a very open question, but I hope you are able to put your finger on the concern that I am facing.

My questions is to all - but I am particularly interested in the experiences of folks who are not from Bangalore and have selected it for their r2i life. I am fairly certain that there are many people like me in Bangalore.

Thanks

usrika · Post by **usrika** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:00 pm

If social life in India for your kids is the goal, do not go to Bangalore (or Bengaluru as it is called now). I moved to Bengaluru (after 13 years in US) in 2003 and returned to the US in 2006. I thought my kids would get exposed to some good Indian culture and values - boy was I wrong!!

First of all, if you are not from Bengaluru it makes even less sense to move there. Second, the culture today in Bengaluru is just like Mumbai (if not worse). Values have eroded and there is no morality. Kids are continuously exposed to violence, sex and profanity through all media. How much can you control? This is a trend all over India and more so in cosmopolitan cities. In addition, the city is totally polluted, over-crowded and in disarray.

In terms of proximity to your relatives, I believe it is the same as it would be if you travel from the US. Being from Gujurat, if you still want to move, I would recommend Delhi as a better alternative to Bengaluru.

r2ikyon · Post by **r2ikyon** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:28 am

usrika;72062If social life in India for your kids is the goal, do not go to Bangalore (or Bengaluru as it is called now). I moved to Bengaluru (after 13 years in US) in 2003 and returned to the US in 2006. I thought my kids would get exposed to some good Indian culture and values - boy was I wrong!!

[/quote]

usrika I sent you a PM. When u get chance can you plz respond.
Thx

yessireebob · Post by **yessireebob** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:07 pm

usrika;72062

In terms of proximity to your relatives, I believe it is the same as it would be if you travel from the US. Being from Gujurat, if you still want to move, I would recommend Delhi as a better alternative to Bengaluru.

Hmmm
You are entitled to your opinions but I am not sure that you will find a big vote for Dehli as a better alternative especially using the yardstick of sex, violence and profanity.

Here go my 2 cents to OP.

The best place to R2I to will be one where (a) you grew up (b) have some connections in terms of family, friends etc or where you can set up a social network, and ofcourse a place which can support your lifestyle with respect to salary, cost of living etc.

Roads, crowding etc can all be taken care of based on how and where you live.

All that being said, Bangalore is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in India where people from all over India can live with minimal adjustments to thier lifestyles.

back_in_des · Post by **back_in_des** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:26 pm

columbus;72005I had some questions regarding life in bangalore after r2i.

I am from Gujarat, have studied and worked in US for the past 9 years. I am planning to return to India sometime in future. Bangalore is my preferred city of return.

One of the reasons for my R2I is proximity to relatives and a chance for my kids to experience social life in India. Most of my relatives are not in or around Bangalore. My parents have agreed to stay with us in Bangalore when we return.

My question is related to the sense of satisfaction of having returned to one's roots. Can this be achieved for somebody in my place? Is it possible to attain r2i satisfaction for someone like me (not from Bangalore) returning to the city of Bangalore? I realize that this is a very open question, but I hope you are able to put your finger on the concern that I am facing.

My questions is to all - but I am particularly interested in the experiences of folks who are not from Bangalore and have selected it for their r2i life. I am fairly certain that there are many people like me in Bangalore.

Thanks

May I suggest Ahmedabad? I hear only good things about Ahmedabad from my employees who hail from Gujarat and who used to work there.

To answer your r2i satisfaction issue, which apparently you'll achieve by returning to the roots - it depends on your point of view.

If being closer to parents is returning to the roots then yes, you'll achieve it with your plan.

The cultures of various places in India have something in common at the same time are so vast.

For eg, kite-flying on sankranti is not that popular in bangalore, but on the same day, you'll have pongal and yellu-bella (til-jaggery) in bangalore. Now, whether you related to bangalore way of celebrating the same festival or not and/or miss your gujarati style sankranti, that determines whether you have "returned to your roots."

In essence, whether you relate to commonalities of culture or crib about missing gujarati culture - that'll play how satisfied you are in bangalore.

Kids typically enjoy social interactions anywhere in India. A control is a must no matter where you are in the world.

gurusw · Post by **gurusw** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:50 pm

usrika;72062If social life in India for your kids is the goal, do not go to Bangalore (or Bengaluru as it is called now). I moved to Bengaluru (after 13 years in US) in 2003 and returned to the US in 2006. I thought my kids would get exposed to some good Indian culture and values - boy was I wrong!!

First of all, if you are not from Bengaluru it makes even less sense to move there. Second, the culture today in Bengaluru is just like Mumbai (if not worse). Values have eroded and there is no morality. Kids are continuously exposed to violence, sex and profanity through all media. How much can you control? This is a trend all over India and more so in cosmopolitan cities. In addition, the city is totally polluted, over-crowded and in disarray.

In terms of proximity to your relatives, I believe it is the same as it would be if you travel from the US. Being from Gujurat, if you still want to move, I would recommend Delhi as a better alternative to Bengaluru.[/quote]

usrika, I see you have posted in three different forums about your dispappointing views about banglore/india. Do you mind posting a detailed experience under "R2I disappointments" i.e. http://www.r2iclubforums.com/clubvb/showthread.php?t=1570&highlight=disappointments

Looks like you stayed in India for 2-3 years after staying in USA for 13 yrs. Given the formula for adjustment (1 USA yr = 1 India month), one would have continued in India in your situation. We are eager to hear what went wrong for you, and how can we learn from your mistakes. Thanks in advance.

jay62728 · Post by **jay62728** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:23 pm

The best place to go back is your native place. For people like me, who are not from any city and have to join jobs somewhere, it?ll be better to stick to own state/region (if get a suitable opportunity). Yes, it is not very nice to hear but that?s what reality is after 60 odd years of the slogan ?unity in diversity?. Regional politics is making it worse and will continue to do so in future (barring only a few cities like Delhi). Many of us prefer B?lore thinking about opportunities there (mainly in terms of better job opportunity and better salary). For anyone not from south, any south Indian city or society is as foreign to that person as US. I never lived in B?lore or in any south-Indian city but many of my friends who lived there think so. Probably it?s the same for South Indian friends in other places in India.
For a non-native person, It?ll be tough to maintain the enthusiasm and attachment to that place in the long run if you are not from that area, have not spent some of your earlier days there. After sometime people do realize (at least many do) that job and money is not everything and they start giving highest priority to something else. But then it?ll be very tough to relocate.

nand · Post by **nand** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:12 am

there is no way i will ever go and live in dry state. Without easy access to liquor life is not worth living:eek::eek:. Even chennai sucks, as you dont have easy access to good liquor. You cannot even get kingfisher beer readily. Bangalore is liquor heaven.

back_in_des;72355May I suggest Ahmedabad? I hear only good things about Ahmedabad from my employees who hail from Gujarat and who used to work there.

To answer your r2i satisfaction issue, which apparently you'll achieve by returning to the roots - it depends on your point of view.

If being closer to parents is returning to the roots then yes, you'll achieve it with your plan.

The cultures of various places in India have something in common at the same time are so vast.

For eg, kite-flying on sankranti is not that popular in bangalore, but on the same day, you'll have pongal and yellu-bella (til-jaggery) in bangalore. Now, whether you related to bangalore way of celebrating the same festival or not and/or miss your gujarati style sankranti, that determines whether you have "returned to your roots."

In essence, whether you relate to commonalities of culture or crib about missing gujarati culture - that'll play how satisfied you are in bangalore.

Kids typically enjoy social interactions anywhere in India. A control is a must no matter where you are in the world.[/quote]

yessireebob · Post by **yessireebob** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:04 am

jay62728;72430For anyone not from south, any south Indian city or society is as foreign to that person as US.

It will be interesting to see how many people agree with the above. I grew up in a Steel Township in the East (would that be North or South?) and those were some of the best times in my life.

We move across oceans and pick places in foriegn lands on a whim, but there seems to be a lot of angst on moving back.

csvirus · Post by **csvirus** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:30 am

gurusw;72420usrika, I see you have posted in three different forums about your dispappointing views about banglore/india. Do you mind posting a detailed experience under "R2I disappointments" i.e. http://www.r2iclubforums.com/clubvb/showthread.php?t=1570&highlight=disappointments

Looks like you stayed in India for 2-3 years after staying in USA for 13 yrs. Given the formula for adjustment (1 USA yr = 1 India month), one would have continued in India in your situation. We are eager to hear what went wrong for you, and how can we learn from your mistakes. Thanks in advance.[/quote]

AMEN to Usrika! Atleast he was able to make a decision to move back. The only positive might be some social networking among family relatives.

usrika, could you plz. tell me your strategy to move back. I would be interested in hearing from you. Might write a private message.