considering expat move to Chennai

LArkitekt · Jul 30th, 2007, 00:25

my 2 cents worth...

if its a short term commitment it will be fine...but for long term, probably not so great coming from US...i personally see what has happened to bangalore is happening to chennai too...yes, beijing is pretty bad pollution wise and chennai is getting there too...as with other metros in india, growth is outpacing infrastructure development (if any) and the result is urban development gone mad...only masked terrorists you will see or the motorists desperately trying not to inhale any smog.

chennai now is not the same chennai 5 years ago and it will be much much worse in 5 years from now and so will be other indian cities...thats the reality!

p.s. yes we have snakes and inspite of others' claim, i have seen hundreds in cities and in our own garden...but thats the least of your worries...

you choose between money, which might not translate to a better quality of life, and new experience. i have moved back to india after 13 years in US mostly because of "india shining"...but now i'm reconsidering it...you will see that lotta daily frustrations will stop being interesting quirks and cute...if i have a choice of providing life for my kids with cleaner air and greener sorroundings i will take that over bigger pay.

good luck!

DesiKid · Jul 30th, 2007, 00:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by LArkitekt

my 2 cents worth...

i have moved back to india after 13 years in US mostly because of "india shining"...but now i'm reconsidering it...you will see that lotta daily frustrations will stop being interesting quirks and cute...if i have a choice of providing life for my kids with cleaner air and greener sorroundings i will take that over bigger pay.

good luck!

My two cents - no disrespect/offense meant..

It is our country..if we have problems we have to blame ourselves..sure life(for Indians) will be not as smooth as it is in the us/some parts of europe..but how long do we try to get away from it? There is something that we can do from our side and there are lot of people who are already doing that..

I am moving back to India for sure..and I expect frustrations right from the airport..but I'd say to myself- Hey its YOUR country..if you are frustrated who would take care of it and I'll move on and will do something from my side

What have I done so far: I've taken on oath not to bribe any federal office and I have not done that and I will not do that...it may not help India to get a 10% growth, but I bet it did help India a little bit and I believe it..

My two cents again: Its our country and out parents lived with more frustration..we may have to live with frustration, but hey we can make out kids lives easier

Nick-H · Jul 30th, 2007, 01:02

With respect to Larkitekt's greater experience, as he came from india initially, but I'd say that the polution aspect of Chennai is not as bad as it was when I first came here ten years ago.

There is vastly more traffic, but, I think most of the vehicles on the roads seem to produce less thick smoke than they did. I think they finally managed, a few years ago, to clamp down on the emissions from the autos' 2-stroke engines? Certainly there are many more modern cars with less emission.

I can recall going into underpasses where thick smoke formed a layer, and you could barely breathe until you came out the other side: I haven't had such a bad experience in the last couple of years.

But, despite the flyovers (several of which seem to stand, unfinished, in some sort of limbo at the moment) the congestion is getting worse and, at certain times of the day, I am reminded of my old home in London where it could take me an hour to drive a mile up the road.

Once you scratch the surface of India, there is a lot to put up with. A lot of the stuff that seems just funny or weird or amazing to a visitor (like the traffic; once you have to deal with the attitudes of your fellow road users) becomes very hard to put up with.

Other stuff, too, like the more you read the newspapers each day the more one can despair of India's politics (not that I'm any expert), the thin veneer of 'democracy', the scant regard for environmental issues... Political will could so easily solve many of Chennai's problems: the mosquitoes; the stinking canal and rivers; the garbage; etc etc etc

Maybe, like London, I've landed again in a place that is great fun to visit, but not so hot to live in. But hey! I managed 30 years of London, so if I can do the same with India there won't be too many years left to worry about

<<Cross-posted with DesiKid>>

Don't misunderstand me. The very last thing I'm suggesting is to give up on India. Don't know how long you'll be able to keep that particular vow, but good luck with it, and with everything else.

DesiKid · Jul 30th, 2007, 01:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Maybe, like London, I've landed again in a place that is great fun to visit, but not so hot to live in. But hey! I managed 30 years of London, so if I can do the same with India there won't be too many years left to worry about

Do you mean London is like Chennai

..I'd be more than happy to hear an "Yes" from you..

Nick-H · Jul 30th, 2007, 01:32

There is an old joke about a competition in the newspaper, offering star first prize: A free Week In London!

The second prize is two free weeks in London

That is the way I was thnking

Chennai is very different to London...

DesiKid · Jul 30th, 2007, 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

There is an old joke about a competition in the newspaper, offering star first prize: A free Week In London!

The second prize is two free weeks in London

That is the way I was thnking

Chennai is very different to London...

Thats what I thought

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Jul 30th, 2007, 00:25	#31
LArkitekt Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In Transit Posts: 127	my 2 cents worth... if its a short term commitment it will be fine...but for long term, probably not so great coming from US...i personally see what has happened to bangalore is happening to chennai too...yes, beijing is pretty bad pollution wise and chennai is getting there too...as with other metros in india, growth is outpacing infrastructure development (if any) and the result is urban development gone mad...only masked terrorists you will see or the motorists desperately trying not to inhale any smog. chennai now is not the same chennai 5 years ago and it will be much much worse in 5 years from now and so will be other indian cities...thats the reality! p.s. yes we have snakes and inspite of others' claim, i have seen hundreds in cities and in our own garden...but thats the least of your worries... you choose between money, which might not translate to a better quality of life, and new experience. i have moved back to india after 13 years in US mostly because of "india shining"...but now i'm reconsidering it...you will see that lotta daily frustrations will stop being interesting quirks and cute...if i have a choice of providing life for my kids with cleaner air and greener sorroundings i will take that over bigger pay. good luck!

Jul 30th, 2007, 01:02	#33
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,194	With respect to Larkitekt's greater experience, as he came from india initially, but I'd say that the polution aspect of Chennai is not as bad as it was when I first came here ten years ago. There is vastly more traffic, but, I think most of the vehicles on the roads seem to produce less thick smoke than they did. I think they finally managed, a few years ago, to clamp down on the emissions from the autos' 2-stroke engines? Certainly there are many more modern cars with less emission. I can recall going into underpasses where thick smoke formed a layer, and you could barely breathe until you came out the other side: I haven't had such a bad experience in the last couple of years. But, despite the flyovers (several of which seem to stand, unfinished, in some sort of limbo at the moment) the congestion is getting worse and, at certain times of the day, I am reminded of my old home in London where it could take me an hour to drive a mile up the road. Once you scratch the surface of India, there is a lot to put up with. A lot of the stuff that seems just funny or weird or amazing to a visitor (like the traffic; once you have to deal with the attitudes of your fellow road users) becomes very hard to put up with. Other stuff, too, like the more you read the newspapers each day the more one can despair of India's politics (not that I'm any expert), the thin veneer of 'democracy', the scant regard for environmental issues... Political will could so easily solve many of Chennai's problems: the mosquitoes; the stinking canal and rivers; the garbage; etc etc etc Maybe, like London, I've landed again in a place that is great fun to visit, but not so hot to live in. But hey! I managed 30 years of London, so if I can do the same with India there won't be too many years left to worry about <<Cross-posted with DesiKid>> Don't misunderstand me. The very last thing I'm suggesting is to give up on India. Don't know how long you'll be able to keep that particular vow, but good luck with it, and with everything else.

Jul 30th, 2007, 01:32	#35
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,194	There is an old joke about a competition in the newspaper, offering star first prize: A free Week In London! The second prize is two free weeks in London That is the way I was thnking Chennai is very different to London...