Moving to India - The FAQs

I've been overwhelmed by your support of my upcoming move to India! I've received many questions over the past few weeks and want to take some time to answer them here in case you have the same questions:

What are you going to do with your house?
I've leased out my guest bedroom and bathroom for the past few months to an awesome roommate who will continue to live in my house and keep her eyes on it while I'm gone.

Where are you going to live?
Work will provide me with a furnished apartment. I saw a couple of options when I was in India in December, and I will see a few more once I arrive.

Online searching isn't as reliable as in the States, so you really have to see the places in person to know what you're getting. I'll stay in a hotel for the first few weeks while I look for a place.

Is work going to pay for your trip?
Yes. They are taking care of the airfare, my housing in India, transportation, and some meals.

What will you do with your cat?
I looked into taking her with me, but you have to be a permanent resident of India to bring in a pet :( I've hired a cat sitter who will come by frequently to take care of her.

Are you excited?
Generally I am excited, but I am a little nervous. I think being a little nervous is healthy though, because as this Forbes article states, "if you're not nervous, you're not growing."

No regrets.

Do you want to go?
Yes! Work gave me a choice; they asked me if this was something I want to do, which it is. I am blessed with this opportunity and really look forward to the experience.

What will you do for fun?
I hope to find a local soccer club I can play in, and a fan club that I can watch games with on the weekends. I plan to get involved with a local church. I hope to take cooking classes, and travel around southern India to places like Goa and Mysore. I may also try some things from this list. If you have any recommendations - let me know!

Aren't you going to get sick of Indian food?
I hope not! I'm more worried about getting sick OFF of Indian food than getting sick OF Indian food. I love rice and potatoes, and as a gluten avoider, I am looking forward to eating rice pancakes (aka dosa) stuffed with potatoes and all sorts of deliciousness for breakfast, and rice with various vegetables and meat stews for lunch and dinner.

Can I come with you?
I hope to get a two-bedroom apartment, so yes - please come visit!

Other questions? Let me know in the comments section below!

Welcome to the South Carolindian

South Carolindian - go ahead, say it

The South Carolindian.

The phrase is fun to say, isn't it?

This Carolina girl will soon be moving for a few months to Southern India, to a city named Bengaluru, which Westerners call Bangalore.

Bangalore is the third largest city in India (behind Mumbai and Delhi) and is home to about 9 million people, which is the same population as NYC.

I will be moving to a city more than 9x larger than my current home, Charlotte. Almost as many people live in Bangalore as live in North Carolina.

Flag of India

I am moving for a work assignment to oversee the ramp-up of a consulting team in my company's office in Bangalore. Over the past few months, I've helped hire and train a team of seven, and I'll be making sure the team is successfully working with the US and planning for growth.

I have always wanted to work overseas for a few months and this is really a perfect opportunity. There are many unknowns I still need to figure out - where I'll be living, where I'll get my groceries, who my friends will be, what will I eat for lunch, and where I'll go for my personal services such as manicures, haircuts and massages (you know, the important stuff). But, figuring this stuff out is like a big puzzle and I can't wait for the adventure.

I plan to use this blog to share stories of my journey with you. Please feel free to comment and let me know what you think!

Bangalore, my new home
Map courtesy of Kids Britannica