How do you feel after returning to Chennai.

Hi friends,

I know some of you have returned to india, and others are planning to return to india. so those who have already returned, let us discuss how you feel and how you have got adjusted to chennai, so that others will get pointers in the direction. so the discusssion points..

1. what was the motivation or the real reason to return to india and when did you return and from where?
2. Did you return with school going kids?
3. Did you have teenagers (let us broaden the gap from the traditionals 13 onwards to 10 onwards), if so how did you convince them ?
4. Did you have a home setup already exisiting (joining parents/parent-in-law)?
5. Did you investment in an apartment/house before returning?
6. How did you choose the school,which school and are you/children happy?
7. Did you face any serious adjustment problems?
8. what do you like about chennai?
9. What do you dislike about chennai?
10.Do you regret your decision?




(I know some of you may feel it is a big list of questions..but it would really be happy to a lot of people who are struggling on decision making)

Though, I don't strictly fall into the return to india category, let me be the first to answer..

1. what was the motivation or the real reason to return to india and when did you return and from where?
Aging parents and growing up kids. Returned from Oman, in 2007

2. Did you return with school going kids?
yes. one into 7th std and another into 4th

3. Did you have teenagers (let us broaden the gap from the traditionals 13
onwards to 10 onwards), if so how did you convince them ?
Yes. I have always been in and out of chennai, and have always been reminding that we will be back in chennai.
4. Did you have a home setup already exisiting (joining parents/parent-in-law)?
Yes .so it was always ready to use.
5. Did you investment in an apartment/house before returning?
Yes.
6. How did you choose the school,which school and are you/children happy?
Yes. My kids go to St.Brittos Academy. I only needed a school with french as second language. did not have much expectations, as we were in the gulf, and had been in the cbse curriculam throughout.
7. Did you face any serious adjustment problems?
Nothing much.
8. what do you like about chennai?
The environment and opportunities for my kids.
9. What do you dislike about chennai?
Government attitude and facilities.
10.Do you regret your decision?
Not much, though we miss DH, who is still working in oman. (that is why technically i cannot be termed return to india)

Dear shanthi..

Really an interesting & most wanted discussion. we have plans even though its not in near future but do have plans, keeping kids education in mind... so sure the discussion points might help us... i might be a silent reader...

Shanthi,

you have started a nice thread. Here's my input.


1. what was the motivation or the real reason to return to india and when did you return and from where?
We returned from US in May 07. Well the motivation was to expose our children to more Indian culture and live close to our family and relatives.

2. Did you return with school going kids?
Yeah, I have two kids, one in 7th grade and one in 3rd grade.

3. Did you have teenagers (let us broaden the gap from the traditionals 13 onwards to 10 onwards), if so how did you convince them ?
Well my tween son was the easier one to convince, he is very adaptable. My daughter who was 7 was the harder one to convince.We spoke to her about all the positives of living here. She still wants to go back sometimes. Glad we came back when we did, if we had waited for a couple more years my daughter would have been very hard to convince.

4. Did you have a home setup already exisiting (joining parents/parent-in-law)?
We have family here in Chennai, but we still had to establish our own setup after coming here.

5. Did you in an apartment/house before returning?
We are building a house now. It will be over my may this year.

6. How did you choose the school,which school and are you/children happy?
I chose billabong for the transition and then I have moved them to spartan in Mogappair. They liked both the schools.

7. Did you face any serious adjustment problems?
Nothing much.

8. what do you like about chennai?
The fact that Chennai is so versatile and cosmopolitan. We get mostly everything that my kids were used to in the US like Pancakes to Pizzas, Mcdonalds Sandwich to Milano Cookies.

9. What do you dislike about chennai?
I dont have anything that I dislike, but my daughter has a few things, like clean walkways along the roadside, nice ponds, and the garbage everywhere.

10.Do you regret your decision?
There were a couple of times that I have regretted but only at that time. Like during the recent rains my house that I live in got flooded with 2 ft of water inside. We lost a lot of books that we collected over the years. That is one time that I really regretted coming back. But I got over that now.

hi all,


nice thread. would like to psot when am back to India in another 2 yrs.

Dear Shanthi,

Thanks a lot for starting a thoughtful thread like this. We also are thinking about coming back, mostly to Chennai ( hoping we find a suitable job in Chennai only). I have one question regarding the language for kids.
1. Is the state language a compulsion for the kids to learn or do they get to choose?
This especially in CBSE, State/ Matric syllabus schools.

2. In the international schools are there any options for languages?

Can someone suggest in regards to this?

Viji

Dear shanthi,

VEry good thread.I always feel present chennai is not our golden days chennai.Now it has become more costly and more dirty and very hot and more crowded.The only improvement is the water. I heard now a days , the water scarcity is not there in chennai.

THe stress the chennai students face cannot be explained in words.THough it makes them more efficient,they are driven towards a mechanical life.So they want to run out of chennai to lead a peaceful life.That's why we see mostly tamil faces whereever we go.

We always love to settle in chennai, but when we see the present condition of chennai????????????????????????????????????.

Romba ekkathodu, chennaiai paarthukondirukkiravargalil naanum orutthi.

Originally Posted by shvap_786

Dear shanthi..
Really an interesting & most wanted discussion. we have plans even though its not in near future but do have plans, keeping kids education in mind... so sure the discussion points might help us... i might be a silent reader...

You are welcome vahee. don't be a silent reader. do discuss the points raised or the points you would like to discuss.

Originally Posted by shree

hi all,
nice thread. would like to psot when am back to India in another 2 yrs.

Shree, you are welcme. so if you are thinking of coming to india in next 2 years, what are the steps you have taken towards it...

Originally Posted by vijianand

Dear Shanthi,

Thanks a lot for starting a thoughtful thread like this. We also are thinking
This especially in CBSE, State/ Matric syllabus schools.
2. In the international schools are there any options for languages?
Can someone suggest in regards to this?
Viji

Viji,
Thanks. regarding the schools, we have talked about this in the school forum. let us leave this thread for discussion on other points please.

Originally Posted by vkrithika1

Dear shanthi,
VEry good thread.
THe stress the chennai students face cannot be explained in words.
We always love to settle in chennai, but when we see the present condition of chennai????????????????????????????????????.
Romba ekkathodu, chennaiai paarthukondirukkiravargalil naanum orutthi.

krithika,

how is singapore. There are people who are all flocking to put their children in chennai schools/colleges, inspite of the tensions and stress.

regarding water, yes there is a problem, but this year stalin has assured water supply. but the suburbs do feel the scarcity every year..and the proof is the plastic colorful pots that are being displayed in all the shops here....