Seeking some advice

TomB

Hi
I have become fascinated by India and have visited three times in the past year. I am now thinking about moving over for a couple of years and have been offered a job as a journalist working for an Indian newspaper in Delhi. I would earn about Rs100,000 a month.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

I suppose my biggest worry is that I might arrive and become quite isolated. It's one thing to have a great time on holiday but quite another to live there. And India is so different. Is there a decent sized international network to plug in to as a safety net and have you found it reasonably easy to befriend Indians?

Also, could I live on Rs100,000 in Delhi

Any advice would be much appreciated,

Tom

anandi

I can assure you of one thing... you will NOT feel isolated! I'm sure you will meet plenty of great people through work. Even if you did feel a bit isolated, it might help your creative process, who knows? I'm not sure about Delhi rent rates, but I think that your salary is ok. Sounds like a great learning experience! You should definitely write about it.

capt_mahajan

salary... after tax? if it is before tax (either in your country or in india), you need to check your tax liability.

if it is after tax, it is a good indian salary, and should be well manageable.

rents in delhi can be expensive,and so can other things, if you want to live an "expatraiate" lifestyle (expensive accomodation, eating out, entertaining, transport etc)

isolated? delhi? not likely.

Nick-H

Welcome to IndiaMike!

Three times in One year: that is amazing! You are very lucky to be able to do that

In fact, three visits in a year culminating in the offer of a permanent job --- this is a fantastic dream for many IMers!

Once in a lifetime chance? More like many lifetimes! You're going to go for it, of course? Imagine the regrets and the wondering for the rest of your life if you didn't...

I think isolation or not is down to you and depends on your character. The fact that you will be working makes it inevitable that you will meet people, especially in such a career.

I'm not a very outgoing person: I spend most of my days enjoying the climate, the birds etc, (not to mention IM.com) in my own home. I don't have any contact with Ex-Pat communuty here, but I know I could be talking to someone within minutes of leaving my front gate. I don't feel isolated.

Delhi may not be quite as friendly as the South, but have no fear about being able to make Indian friends.

It is very hard to know, out of the many who will approach you, who will fade away after satisfying their curiosity, who will fade away after borrowing money from you, and who will be your life-long friend, but be assured that, although the first two will happen, there will be many in the latter category.

I guess Delhi living wouldl cost a lot more than here in Chennai, but Rs100,000 is a lot of money in India. It is several times my monthly budget <envious smilie >

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

rohan5577

Well my take on Indian print media is that it is a very exciting environment to be in at the moment. I can say this because I work in the Corporate Strategy team of a large Indian publishing and media house.

A 100,000 salary should be good enough to start with, and the experience could be far more enriching.

In case you want more info on print media or Delhi, we can exchange notes.

Cheers.

Rohan

__________________
You can take a man out of India, but you can never take India out of a man!

ferml

You're going to take the job, right? Even if it's hard, even if you hate it, you did it, and THAT is worth so much... to me, anyway. Also, in my opinion, most experiences are what you *choose* to make them (to a reasonable degree). You've been here more a number of times so you clearly have some inkling of what you're getting yourself into, so I'd say go for it.

In terms of expats... I live in Delhi and personally wouldn't call the expat community thriving, but there are certainly opportunities there if that's what you're looking for (other cities may be different).

In terms of Indian friends... since you are here for work and will obviously be spending time with Indians, I'd say you have a good chance of making Indian friends. In my experience, they are very friendly and inclusive. As Nick-H stated, many will approach you simply out of curiosity, but that oftens turns into more if you let it.

jivan

Like the above quote. Very aptly put Nick . Also 100k is many times my salary. So one can be a maharajah & spend it all or be a miser (like me) & wait for the rainy day

AFA isolation is concerned, it's something within you. It all depends on where u are coming from, India gives space to both. To be alone & to be surrounded by friends

TrueBrit

TomB - Are you leaving us at the LP then? You will be missed if you are but grasp the chance with both hands. Every success to you.

__________________
I was ironing my curtains last night and fell out of the window!

hitanshu

It truly depends on your lifestyle.
About 15-20k for a decent 2-3bhk (and thrice that for a serviced posh one)
About 5-10k for fuel, another 3-5k for utilities.
Basic living (excl exotic food/wines): 5-10k

Rest depends on how you wing it

Oh and you DO need a vehicle. I'd recommend a bike, but for a newbie, a car would be needed
EDIT: Add in about 1.5k for a salsa/dance class, some 1-3k for a gym, some 2-5k for monthly eating/partying out/movies (you can spend 10X if you go five star - this is just for those who are not into the heppest of places)
and yes, joining some interest groups would make life interesting. Otherwise, by yourself, you'd soon get broed of delhi. Again - should you wanna bike, nothing like it - Delhi can serve as *base camp* for countless sorties into the Himalayas. And that in itself, is unforgettable!