Mumbai or not?

mogster 52

Hello,
First time user here so be gentle.

I have been asked to consider a job in Mumbai. The office will be in Andheri West with most of my colleagues living in Juhu, so that's where i think we would reside.

My questions are this;
We have a 15 month year old son and I hear the pollution is terrible (same as smoking 40 a day) but what is the reality? Also, whats the health care like?

Also, what about malaria, do you take tablets everyday and also your children?

How is the life really like? I read Familyonthemoves blogs (excellent by the way) and wonder if this is what it is really like on a day to day basis (don't like the idea of supersized centipeds!!!!!)

In real terms does anyone recommend the move or not...I know it'subjective but from so far away in England it's so hard to make an informed view. I would like to try but don't want to put my son at risk (well more risk than is necessary)or my lovely wife to get bored or feel like a prisoner i expat land.

Also, what is the cost of food for three?( I know an easy question, but two adults and a 15 month with an appetite). Also, we would like to meet other expats, so is it easy doing that especially with kids?

All I ask is honest answers, the rest is up to us.
Yours sincerely,
Steven

chaia

Hi Steven,
let me ask you some questions back first.
Have you or your wife been to Asia before?
Have you been outside of Europe?
If yes, for how long?
What does your heart tell you to do?
How is your wife feeling about this?

Welcome to IM btw

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Haylo

As we're asking questions...

Do you have to decide immediately? I was wondering whether you have the opportunity to take a short holiday over there to meet your potential colleagues and see their lifestyles, and get some idea whether it looks even remotely like something you could do?

mogster 52

Chaia, Thank you for the reply,
My wife spent a year travelling around fiji,oz and NZ for about a year (i stayed at home!!!) so she is used to not havng the family around and i work away three days a week. What we dont want to do is miss an amazing opportunity but at the same time not put our son at undue risk.If we were not parents, we would come without too many questions, it's just the thought of placing our son in an environment that may cause harm (i know i am being an over protective dad!!!!!!)

My heart and hers say yes as we both love living life to the full but i guess it's not about us anymore in some respects.

Haylo, i have asked for some time there, but we have been asked to make the decision blind (we have had a week to discuss). I guess a month there would help in the decision making, but jst wante some independant thoughts.

Thanks guys
Mog

chaia

Looks to me as if you are ready to go.
I'd say follow yor heart.

kristinm

I am not qualified to answer you - but that's never stopped me! But I can tell you yes, the pollution is terrible, but we did get used to it after a day or 2. Worse than Sydney certainly, haven't been to London for years so not sure about that (I remember it being bad though). We were there in winter and people burn loads of crap everywhere to stay warm so that doesn't help.

We loved Mumbai - apart from all the Indiannessn on the streets which is endlessly fascinating.. there is a lot of glitz and sophistication at the upper level - its not stuffy, more fun, lots of coffee drinking and cocktails and Bollywood

We had a very weird night with expats in Udaipur -

I have a lot of friends who have lived the expat wife life in Hong Kong and Singapore... from what they have told me, and from what I saw of Mumbai & expats in Mumbai have said, I'd say you'd be a lot less of a prisoner in Mumbai. There is a lot you could get involved in - I guess it depends on how much you want to immerse yourself and also taking care of a 15 month old is pretty demanding. I guess you'd have an amah or something though so your wife could get out and about.

If I were being offered an expat wife's life in Mumbai, I'd jump at it personally even with a 15 month old. Kids are loved there, so you can take them around with you, staff and help is inexpensive and loving with kids, the street and cultural life is fascinating, the food is great and if you have a few bucks and are living well the high end of life looks like a lot of fun! In the long term there are lots of charities and other things to get involved with, heaps of cultural stuff like dance and music, great art...

If your wife is adventurous, non-judgemental, easy-going but able to stand up for herself and take charge, open-minded and prepared to take things as they come - including the smells and dirt and beggars and traffic and coughs and colds - she should love it... but bear in mind I have only had a short stay there, although I met quite a few expats.

Any chance of a short holiday with her first to get a feel for it?

mogster 52

chaia,
Thankas again for reply and yes, i think follow the heart in many ways. But what is life really like? I won't to follow,my heart but only if my son does not suffer any harm ( I read that living in Mumbai is the same as smoking 40 a day, not something I want for my lad).

Nothing is without risk, it's about minimising it. If I can be clear on that, then no worries, we go/come!!!

Thanks
Mog

SitaParityaga

mogster, your news of a job in Mumbai sounds so exciting. Congrats!

I tried to put myself in your place...yikes, I can see where you would have the old "good parent bad parent" dilemma.

Now given you've excused us all.....thanks for that...its hard talking about such a sensitive issue without feeling you may be influencing someone to make a decision which results in a sick baby, lets face it.

Just the same, because you will be in the big city, not travelling about, you're likely to find yourself a good doctor fairly quickly (yes, before you need one) and set yourself up with medical resources for the baby (and yourself + wife) as you're settling in.

Along with following the advice of your doctors at home, it would also be a good idea to pm Familyonthemove, or other members with children who have moved to Mumbai to hear their experiences.

mogster 52

Sita,
Nice reply!!!!!

I think I will PM as you say.Good idea on the doc before we arrive. But.....

What's the pollution realy like??? Don't wanna hide beihend the wee fella, far from it, I want to come for him as I think it will be good for him , just with minimal risk to him ( I'm already past it, so no worries in damaging me )

Thanks again, much appreciated.

Mog

mogster 52

Kristen,
thank you for the post. I will send this one to my wife. One of the great benefits is being closer to sydney as my sons godmother is there.

I think my wife would do charity work as i guess you acn do something better with your life than chase the corparate dollar. I do worry she will be bored and want to cme home, hence my questions.

Anyway, enjoy bondi, we love it there.
Mog

SitaParityaga

Just how I feel too, kristinm. We're India loving people, and we see the plus side of moving to Mumbai, no doubt. The culture in India is so wonderfully supportive of children and mothers, if I had a 15 month old, I'd be packing our bags tonight. Hello helpful childcare! There is pollution, no doubt...but Mumbai is on the coast, and has the fresh sea air coming in. Chowpatty beach on a Sunday with your kid...I can't imagine a more fun day. As long as I had my medical people all lined up for me, I'd be able to relax and enjoy myself better.

Let us all know how it works out for you. I think we all love Familyonthemove's blogs: they're interesting and helpful to all who want to bring children to India.

Hemmie

We moved to Mumbai (from the Netherlands) 14 months ago, with our son who was then 17 months. The pollution doesn't really seem to bother us, although I know of expat children prone to asthma who have a hard time here. Healthcare here is fine, our daughter was born here in India 2 weeks ago, and although it was not always exactly how I would have wanted it, the medical care was good. You just need to find a doctor/hospital near to where you live that is of western standards. But any expat will be able to help you with that.

Malaria tablets are not necessary in the city, but of course always avoid mosquito bites, malaria and dengue are existent.

From my experience a lot of expats (especially the wives) find it hard here, but I think that if you really try to make the best of it, it can be a great experience. Although India will never really feel like 'home', we are comfortable living here. There are good things (having as much domestic help as you want/need) and bad things (not a lot of places to take a child on weekends, we would love a nice zoo or something like that), but you will have that with any country.
I've found it very easy to fill my days here. When you have a child it gets even easier to meet other families, and you wife should have more than enough possibilities to go out.

Mosi

Hello, I am also a new user.

We are a couple with a 2-year old daughter from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We are offered a 1-year stay in Mumbai for my husband's work. I would also like to know what it is like to live there with a small child, therefore I would like to get in touch with couples with (small) children who live in Mumbai. Further, my major concern is the gap between rich and poor, the poverty you see on the streets. How bad is it, how do you deal with that?

I would really appreciate some input.

Thanks in advance!

Hemmie

Hi, we are also from the Netherlands, and we live in Mumbai with our young children, see my posting above. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions.

matt67

The pollution problem is not so bad anymore. Over the past 3 years i have seen a great improvement, and it is all down to LPG. The greatest polluters on the streets were rickshaws, trucks and taxis. They have all converted to LPG so no more smoke. Go to any traffic lights in Mumbai now and see the difference. You can actually see the car in front.

There is one other pollution that needs addressing. Noise pollution. Everyone makes too much noise. There are plans afoot to educate the people into using their horns less. The Mumbai council is taking it seriously.

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