Moving to Mumbai in August

ally reeves · Apr 29th, 2009, 05:03

Greetings All-

I am a Fulbright scholar and artist moving to Mumbai to study street vendors and the carts they use. I am looking for all sorts of advice and will greatly appreciate your input in any matters listed below. I am learning Hindi but am all English right now.

I have thought of living alone but am not sure what I can afford. I will have around rs 35,000 at the lowest though I am told closer to rs 40,000. Is this a reasonable wage per month?

I would like to live in a convenient and safe part of town and I might be working with either the University of Mumbai or the Tata Institute. Can anyone recommend a safe neighborhood?

If I cannot afford to live alone I would like to share a space with another woman who is traveling to India and trying to learn the language. It also would be nice to live with a local student who might be able to help me with my Hindi. I would love to hear from others who would like to work together to rent a place.

Any advice on living in Mumbai and information about what the social activities there are like would be wonderful!!! I am most worried about going from a place where I have many friends to a place where I have very few...

Thank you for your thoughts!

Hal · Apr 29th, 2009, 07:04

Welcome to the site! I've only spent a few days in Mumbai so I can't answer many of your queries other than to say that it's a great city. Don't worry - the Indian people are charming and friendly and you'll likely have no trouble making friends.

LilBoy BigTown · Apr 29th, 2009, 07:19

Pepper spray for self defence, haven't heard of that one before. I know cops in some countries carry it with them.

Mumbai is safe and you should be fine as long as you are being reasonable and not putting yourself in harms way.

dexteronweb · Apr 29th, 2009, 08:30

bombay or mumbai is unlike any other city you have seen...looking at your Qs :-)

i have lived in mumbai all my life so here are a few short answers:

hindi is difficult to learn...so just try and learn the common phrases...good evening...hello...how much is this for...most indians, even street vendors can speak and undersant basic english in mumbai so you can speak to them slowly.

35 to 40K Rs is great by any standards in mumbai. the city is very cheap , but the real estate is very expensive. see where you are planning to stay. if you are looking at prime areas...you will spend all your money just on the accomodation! All parts of bombay are safe...so you can stay anywhere. usually its a tradeoff between rent and travel time!

mumbai is very well segmented...so you can have tea starting at Rs 3 at a roadside shop to Rs 150 at Taj. depending on your mood and how much you want to spend...you will get all kinds of restaurants( hotels as they are called in mumbai)

mumbai is very crowded so its very safe to walk alone. nobody can do you anything. the kind of crime which may happen is mostly hit and run types...like somebody might snatch your wallet or gold chain or something like that. mugging is almost impossible coz you are always surronded by people! people are very helpful so if you ask them nicely...they will go out of their way to help you. ofcourse try and ask sophisticated people and not rowdy ones! so no need of pepper spray or anything. you will find great strength in numbers and will never really be alone...even when you want to!

i dont think you will have any problem making friends...its THE CITY...you will find all kinds of people there...so you can literally take your pick...some tips are to learn some basic things on indians and indian cultures...like cows are sacred...blah blah...

foreigners do attract unwanted attention from beggars or vendors or something. use your judgement to tackle this. hey...but that happens in new york city as well...that they try to fleece the tourists...ha ha...

best of luck for your studies!
trust me...its going to be one great adventure!

Raghu.Kumar · Apr 29th, 2009, 12:53

Welcome to India, Mumbai , Amchi Mumbai means our Mumbai as fondly called by the Locals there. As you would be studying about Street vendors and Carts, you must definitely go through the website about the Mumbai Dabbawalas. They have created History and the World's Six sigma specialists are breaking their heads as to how these guys are managing their show so efficiently.

http://www.mydabbawala.com/presentat...abbawala.ppt#7

http://www.mydabbawala.com

Learning Hindi, great. Also go through the below weblink, which would help you to know some basic words quickly.

http://www.languageshome.com/English-Hindi.htm

yes 35 to 40 K would be fine, but you wont be able to manage that with having an accommodation of your own. As you have yourself mentioned that you are willing to share, there are so many foreginers ( students and working single ladies ) who share an apartment and you can also find one soon for about 10 to 12 k per month.

You can also drop in at the Bompay expats yahoo group to meet like minded people and also to get some tips on availability of shared accommodation.

This seems crazy but I have never been to India- hence the grant. I would love suggestions of nice places to go to meet students in late twenties/early thirties. I am also a great fan of coffee and tea. Is it affordable to go out to cafes regularly?

Yes Mumbai si very safe. Wroking ladies and women students travel alone up to 11 PM or even beyond and there is no issue of safety unless you are choose to walk in a narrow alley or a secluded place very late. Otherwise no issues at all. You can use your pepper spray on your boiled eggs !!

Check out the below weblink for details on Mumbai. Dont worry Mumbai is a lively place and people are warm and friendly. Just have to follow basic safety precautions thats all and you would be safe. Dont worry about freinds not been there, we are here for you ( though on the net !!! ) Please do share your concerns and thoughts and we would be happy to clear it for you. Please tell your mom not to worry about her little grown up daughter as you would be fine as a fiddle and have a rocking time.

http://www.mumbaibest.com/

Cheers !!! Raghu

Quote:

Originally Posted by ally reeves

Greetings All-

I am a Fulbright scholar and artist moving to Mumbai to study street vendors and the carts they use. I am looking for all sorts of advice and will greatly appreciate your input in any matters listed below. I am learning Hindi but am all English right now.

I have thought of living alone but am not sure what I can afford. I will have around rs 35,000 at the lowest though I am told closer to rs 40,000. Is this a reasonable wage per month?

I would like to live in a convenient and safe part of town and I might be working with either the University of Mumbai or the Tata Institute. Can anyone recommend a safe neighborhood?

If I cannot afford to live alone I would like to share a space with another woman who is traveling to India and trying to learn the language. It also would be nice to live with a local student who might be able to help me with my Hindi. I would love to hear from others who would like to work together to rent a place.

This seems crazy but I have never been to India- hence the grant. I would love suggestions of nice places to go to meet students in late twenties/early thirties. I am also a great fan of coffee and tea. Is it affordable to go out to cafes regularly?

And for my mother- is it safe to walk around alone in most places in Mumbai? My family would like me to carry pepper spray though I am not sure this makes sense. Should I try to have people go with me everywhere I go or am I safe to go most places alone? Sorry if this is out of context- my mother is a worrier

Wow. Any advice on living in Mumbai and information about what the social activities there are like would be wonderful!!! I am most worried about going from a place where I have many friends to a place where I have very few...

Thank you for your thoughts!

gaurav1441 · Apr 29th, 2009, 12:56

If you are coming for 2-3 months only you may connect with Tata Institute ans see if they have any Guest Houses available. Getting help from Mumbai University is close to impossible.

Pepper Spray is not required. But Presence of Mind is required there.

luckywin · Apr 29th, 2009, 13:17

I am sure you will enjoy the stay in Mumbai. Its safe, not to worry for anything.

It depends what kind of places you visit. I mean as in everywhere in the world if you are in a wrong place for wrong thing its risky always everywhere. Normaly in Mumbai you dont have to be accompanied by anyone. you can roam around anywhere.

Welcome

ally reeves · Apr 29th, 2009, 19:20

Thanks for your replies everyone! Esp. the suggestion to save the pepper for the eggs--

This has been a very encouraging thread thus far! I'll be in Mumbai for 9 mo., Guarav. Thanks for your housing suggestion.

Looking forward to hearing from any women who would like to find a place to rent together!

Thank you!

dexteronweb · Apr 29th, 2009, 22:02

btw...can anybody please tell me the american version of india mike...as in a good american travel forum for foreigners

i think i am on the wrong site!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ally reeves

Thanks for your replies everyone! Esp. the suggestion to save the pepper for the eggs--

This has been a very encouraging thread thus far! I'll be in Mumbai for 9 mo., Guarav. Thanks for your housing suggestion.

Looking forward to hearing from any women who would like to find a place to rent together!

Thank you!

Raghu.Kumar · Apr 30th, 2009, 14:34

Hi Ally,

You are welcome. You may post your accommodation requirement in the Bombay Expats yahoo group also so that you can expect many options pouring in from expats moving out or additional space they may have in their apartment etc.

Regards, Raghu

Quote:

Originally Posted by ally reeves

Thanks for your replies everyone! Esp. the suggestion to save the pepper for the eggs--

This has been a very encouraging thread thus far! I'll be in Mumbai for 9 mo., Guarav. Thanks for your housing suggestion.

Looking forward to hearing from any women who would like to find a place to rent together!

Thank you!

palbadri · May 1st, 2009, 00:07

Hey Ally- I am also moving to Mumbai this summer. However, I am originally from India, New Delhi. This forum is great and has given me some much needed feedback. I have some friends from my university here in New York who are originally from Mumbai and also have a full bright scholar friend who knows a lot about mumbai (she is from mumbai but not livin there now) if you want me to put you in touch with anyone that you can email me on my University email: ps287@cornell.edu
I would be happy to put you in touch with some girls who are from Mumbai University and perhaps they could introduce you to their friends who need room mates or if not then generally to hang out some reliable university kids.

Hope you will have a grt stay in Mumbai. I love that city.

kristebell · May 7th, 2009, 17:50

Hey Ally, I'm also moving to Mumbai to do research for around 9-12 months and will arrive next Saturday (16th May). I'm doing PhD research in affilliation with the Tata Institute. Although I haven't sorted out any long term accomodation yet, the Tata Institute have promised to help me find somewhere to live within my budget etc. I'm sure they would do the same if you end up linking up with them. When are you planning to arrive?

kristebell · May 7th, 2009, 18:31

Oops, sorry just re-checked the title of the thread, and there it is, you're moving in August. It would be great to meet up when you get to Mumbai as it sounds like we have similar things happening....feel free to IM me at some point, I may have some tips for you by the time you are heading over!

ashukkb · May 12th, 2009, 19:19

Hi Kristebell

Welcome to Mumbai.... It would be better if you get accomodation in TISS itself in its hostel , you can find good option in Chembur or Vashi can be the good option if you are willing to travel for 25-30 minutes.