Over the past few weeks a few random conversations with the wide RG client base prompted us to write about life as an expat in India again.Although RedGirraffe caters to the property requirements of clients from all walks of life, our client base comprises of quite a few expats and NRIs. Moving and setting up life in a new country is tough & we’ve witnessed a mixed bag of experiences and reactions.
Life in India is definitely a lot more chaotic than what most people are used to but many accommodations are made & for the most part, living in India turns into a rewarding experience. Most expats have embraced the challenges and are now in love with their adopted country.While many had their reservations when first moving to India,most did their homework and were prepared for what the country had in store for them.
We asked a few expats who now call India home about that one piece of advice or information that would help someone considering the move to India. We’ve put the best shared tips, information and advice into this post & shall be sharing more from time to time:
1) If you plan to stay in India for more than 180 consecutive days you will be required to register at the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within the first 14 days of your arrival. Failure to do so could mean that you lose your Indian visa.
2)When living in India you will experience irregular/frequent power cuts. Get voltage stabilizers for electronic appliances and UPS for your computer.Ensure that the property includes generator back up or an inverter at least to ensure smooth flow of power during power cuts.
3)Most apartments don’t have ovens although ovens are easily available from large electrical shops.Microwaves are smaller and combo convection grill+ microwaves are also available.
4)Never accept ripped/damaged bank notes,always hand the note back if it’s even slightly ripped..
5)Don’t be alarmed by Swastika symbols. No one is a Nazi, it’s a symbol considered sacred in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism & symbolises many things such as luck,the sun, the creator -Brahma.
6) A listing which describes the property as unfurnished it not only means that there is no furniture; it also means that appliances and air conditioners are not included. You need to thoroughly check what is included before finalising the deal.Make sure you know exactly what is included & ask for replacements in case you feel the furniture already included is too old.
Do any of these sound familiar? In case you have an experience or advice worth sharing, feel free to write to us at connect@redgirraffe.com. We shall feature your story in the next edition of ‘The Expat Life’.
Tags: accommodation in India, expat life, Indian summer, moving to India
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