About

About Me:

Relocated to Bangalore from California with hub and kids in Oct ‘06. When I started blogging on blogger, I started out blogging our return to India (R2I) experiences. And soon, I realized that it was useful to a lot of people who were in the process of moving/considering a move/weighing their options etc. So I moved to my own site here, and I put all the r2I relevant topics under http://r2blore.chitra-aiyer.com.

My husband and I are in the early to the mid thirties. We have 2 young children - in kindergarten and pre-kindergarten. Because of the children, I have had many opportunities to interact with a lot of other parents and well, mostly the talk revolves around the children, their activities, and schools. So, one of the other things that I try to cover under http://r2blore.chitra-aiyer.com is also about the schools in Bangalore. And when I write about schools, I write either from first hand experience or after talking to parents who have their children in the said schools. This is primarily to help out other parents who are trying to look up information about the schools they are considering.

I also write about topics that the readers ask me info about. So, if there is anything that you want info about, especially about living/moving to Bangalore, working in Bangalore, or schools in Bangalore, feel free to email me at chitra [_] aiyer @ yahoo [.] com .

I enjoy photography and you will find my pics on flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/aiyerchitra . The camera I use is the EOS Digital Rebel XTi / 400D. The lenses I have are the kit lens (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6) and the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM, Sigma EF 24 - 70 MM F/2.8.

Some of the books that I have enjoyed - Ishmael, The Alchemist, Great expectations, Three men in a boat, Interpreter of Maladies, The Namesake, Kahlil Gibran’s, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, George Bernard Shaw’s Plays, The Bridge Across Forever, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Kite Runner, Love story, The Class, The Guide, Fountainhead, Rainmaker, The Witch of Portobello ….

Movies that I love - Matrix, 12 Angry Men, Forrest Gump, Godfather I, Fight Club, Amadeus, Fargo, O Brother where art thou?, Scent of a woman, Bonnie and Clyde, Devil’s Advocate, Hotel Rwanda, Terms of Endearment, How Green was my Valley, Everything is Illuminated, Mouna Ragam, Jaane Bhee Do Yaaron, Dr Zhivago, As good as it gets, Dogfight, Moondram Pirai, Pithamagan, Ijazat, Austin Powers: the Spy Who Shagged Me, Flavors, Bend it Like Beckham, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, The Full Monty, Big Daddy, Seven Years in Tibet, My cousin Vinny, Rainman, Paniamma, Pallavi Anupallavi, Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s, Philadelphia, Garden state, Continental Divide, Shattered Glass, Dor, many lovely Malayalam movies, Older/simpler Hindi movies starring Amol Palekar or Farooq Sheikh, and many many more …

30 Responses to “About”

  1. Kishen, on November 1st, 2007 at 3:55 am Said:

    Hi Chitra,
    I wanted to check the below with you…

    Since your kids are american citizens and possess PIO cards, are they eligible for OCI ?

    This i am asking since you and your husband are indian citizens… Btw we are also in the same situation and planning to R2I.

    thanks!

  2. Vidya, on January 26th, 2008 at 12:12 am Said:

    Hi

    You have some wonderful shots on Filckr. Can you tell me or suggest what DSLR you use ?

    Thanks
    Vidya

  3. Bhupesh, on February 14th, 2008 at 11:39 am Said:

    I’d like to know some good pre schools options in the whitefield are other than Neev, Eurokids, Kidzee.
    I find Neev too good and too expensive. Its annual fee is 2.5x that of others like kidzee, etc.
    Please suggest some school that has the right balance of cost/quality.

  4. Mary, on March 21st, 2008 at 2:08 pm Said:

    Hi Chitra,

    Can you suggest a couple of cos. that handle moving stuff from USA to India, BLR in particular.

    Thank you

  5. Chitra, on March 24th, 2008 at 12:31 am Said:

    Hi Mary,

    Please see these posts - http://r2blore.chitra-aiyer.com/2007/03/r2i-tips-for-an-r2i-move.html and http://r2blore.chitra-aiyer.com/2006/12/r2i-our-boxes-are-here.html

  6. Lakshmi, on April 5th, 2008 at 5:53 pm Said:

    Stumbled upon your blog through a lot of hops and glad I did.
    My husband and I returned to India after having spent seven years in the US, five years ago. The best move we have ever made. I can relate to a lot of your posts.
    Great attempt at educating would-be-movers.

  7. Amrutha, on May 23rd, 2008 at 10:48 pm Said:

    Hi Chitra,

    It is a cool website. We’re abt to return to India & our friend recommended your website. I have a Q.

    I wonder if I can bring the kitchen items like toaster, roti maker etc (110V) and use them in B’lore with an international converter for kitchen. (everything is almost brannd new & if it is worth bringing instead of buying there again, I’d love to ship. (BTW, my company pays for shipping).

    Many thanks!

  8. mush, on July 2nd, 2008 at 1:00 pm Said:

    chitra/…beautiful,amazing photos!!!

    u r an artist!!

    keep it up!

  9. Laxmi Srikanth, on July 6th, 2008 at 4:02 am Said:

    Hello Chitra;

    You have answered a lot of questions about moving from the US to India, mine is the opposite. We were residents fo California for 10years during which my children attended school through 6th grade when we moved back to Bangalore. My son is currently pursuing his 9th IGCSE and we will be moving back to the US next year i.e when he is in his 10th. Will we have any issues with his admissions into the 10th grade there?Look forward to hearing from anyone who has had a similar experience. Thanks
    Laxmi

  10. Sriram Gopalaratnam, on July 21st, 2008 at 4:18 pm Said:

    Hi Chitra,

    A friend of mine relocated to Pune after 10 years in the Bay Area. We were talking the other day about your blogs and he mentioned that he found it useful.

    I have read your blogs when you just started writing. Looks like you have many web sites and blogs now.

    Good work.

    -Sriram

  11. BreatheHyd, on July 29th, 2008 at 3:00 am Said:

    Chitra,

    Love your blog. Have been feeling the India blues lately and came across your blog. Have read it voraciously over the last few days. You are a special person with a gift for the written word and a keen eye for photography. Loved your snaps on Flickr too especially the lotuses and the India portraits. Very well captioned too. Keep up the good work.

    I just started writing a blog too at http://breathehyd.wordpress.com/

    BreatheHyd

  12. Veena, on August 26th, 2008 at 5:02 pm Said:

    Hi Chitra,

    Thanks for the very informative blog! I do have a question. I understand that your kids are US citizens are you and your husband are GC holders. Have you been able to maintain the GC status or did you give up the GC? How difficult is to travel to US (i.e., to get a visa) if you give up your GC.
    I would really appreciate any input you can provide on this.
    Thanks,
    Veena

  13. Robert ( Personalised Gifts Consultant ), on September 19th, 2008 at 8:01 am Said:

    Hi Chitra,
    Your blog is excellent. It will be very helpful when I return back from Australia. Your flickr collection is excellent. I was reading your Foreign affairs office experience too. I can be more prepared for the process. Keep it up.. Keep blogging and keep taking photos.

    thanks,
    Robert

  14. Puttappa, on October 13th, 2008 at 7:10 pm Said:

    Chitra,

    Nice set of blogs. The photos are Excellent!!!! Did you win the Phtot contest??

    I came in ‘90 in US, but want to return to Bangalore in few years. I have some investments in US and may have to wait for the Housing and the overall economy to get better. I guess by them my kids will be in middle school. So I have 2 set of questions..

    1. How are the so called International schools in Bangalore? Will the kids who have studies upto middle school can get adjusted without much frication? Is kannada a complusory any where?

    2.How is the real estate? I saw too much of hype Is it likely to go down? Is it better to move to a community near a Internationsl school?

    Thanks,
    Puttappa

  15. Shilpa, on October 22nd, 2008 at 11:20 am Said:

    Hi Chitra,
    Really informative blog. Thanks for taking the time to do this. I wanted to know if you had a section on doctors or gynaecologists. I am pregnant and went to a very lackadaisical yet popular gynaecologist and wanted to make sure people steer clear of her. Any ideas on how to do something like this.
    Thanks,
    Shilpa

  16. UG, on November 19th, 2008 at 7:29 am Said:

    Hi Chitra,
    A very interstering and informative blog…keep up the good work…
    I am just feeling bad that i had not checked your blog earlier…..am going through the same ordeal as many parents do in scouting for a decent school for my 3 year old son….being november born….he’s does’nt seem to be eligible for nursery in many schools…even if i don’t mind him loosing a year….these schools don’t even give us the application form…how annoying….currently it seems like a herculean task to get his admission going….just hope we will be able to get his admission done….Thanks…

  17. kavitha, on December 3rd, 2008 at 6:22 am Said:

    Hi chitra i wd like to knw abt vidya shilp more for 1 std

  18. Aditya Roy, on January 16th, 2009 at 8:39 am Said:

    Hi Chitra,

    I am Aditya, a coach at Neoway Academy, we are a learning organisation, we specialize in Neuro Linguistic Programming and in the field of Accelerated Learning.

    We are conducting an exciting and unique program for parents, educators and people interested in working with children. I came your blog and site on the internet and I thought you might be interested in this program, if you are, please leave me a msg a aditya@neowayin.com or call me at 9945585329. We are also doing a free 1 hour intro session today between 6 pm and 7 pm and on sunday between 5 pm and 6 pm at our office on Residency Road. The purpose of this session is to inform people about the work we do and what kind of opportunities are available in this field. Looking forward to hearing from you.

    Thanks,

    Aditya Roy

  19. Abdul, on March 10th, 2009 at 9:13 pm Said:

    Hi chitra,
    You are doing a wonderful job .I am planning to send my daughters for their schooling in Bangalore.They are studing in Canada grade 7 and grade 1. I have read your article on ICSE AND CBSE.
    Please advise as to whether my kids should visit these schools which I have short listed namely Baldwin ,Dps and Nps kormangala before finalinsing the admission .
    when should I move as schools close here third of june and the schools in bangalore start on 5 june
    Bye
    Abdul

  20. Quaisara Omar, on March 17th, 2009 at 2:45 pm Said:

    Dear Chitra,

    Hi! This is probably the most random email you will receive. I stumbled on your website by default when I was looking up my own maiden name on google. My maiden name was Chitra Iyer but I now go by Quaisara Omar after converting by marrying a muslim. I was also born in Bangalore and studied there on and off. Anyway, long story short, I loved your work. The stare especially is “quite piercing”.

    Keep up the good work! Who knows, we may meet someday!

    From Chitra Iyer to Chitra Aiyer:)

  21. SSKUMAR, on April 5th, 2009 at 10:23 am Said:

    Chitra

    I lost one of my friend 12 years before , would you mind if i ask your help to find her ?

    Regards

  22. Chaitra, on June 4th, 2009 at 4:51 am Said:

    Hi Chitra,

    Do you have any idea about how is Euro Kids in RT nagar Bangalore?

    Since its near to my house, want to put my son here.

    Thanks,
    Chaitra

  23. Bhanu, on June 12th, 2009 at 9:09 pm Said:

    Hi Chitra,
    Great Blog!
    We are planning to relocate to bangalore this august-2009. I have admitted my 3 year old daughter in Eurokids, Basaveshvarnagar(did I spell that right?). Does anyone have any idea about this branch of EuroKids?

  24. Aashima, on September 7th, 2009 at 4:06 am Said:

    Hi Chithra,
    Iam Aashima & my family relocated to Bangalore this march ‘09. My daughter who’s now 5yrs is a citizen of U.S. I would appreciate if you colud share some information regarding what’s the procedure that we need to follow for her since we are back for good here in Bangalore.

  25. Reshma, on February 4th, 2010 at 7:44 am Said:

    HI Chitra,
    Please suggest some good schools in mysore as we are planning to relocate to Mysore by this year end. My son will go for 6h grade.
    So please suggest some good schools in mysore with cbse/icse
    Thanks.

  26. nandini, on February 15th, 2010 at 10:41 am Said:

    hi, your photos are real good.good job can you please tell me where to find the 7th std chemistry syllabus for icse board.

  27. Uma, on June 29th, 2010 at 12:57 am Said:

    Hi Chitra,
    We r planning to relocate to Bangalore in September. Can u pls suggest some good schools where we can try admission for our 7yr old son. He will be in second grade by the time we return to bangalore. Will he get admission as we return in the middle of the academic year?

  28. Anupallavi, on October 3rd, 2010 at 2:06 am Said:

    Thanks for sharing. I just happened to land on this page while searching about Anupallavi on Google. Keep up the good work and all the best.

  29. Anil, on August 7th, 2011 at 8:35 pm Said:

    HI Chitra and the fellow bloggers:
    This is Anil; your blog is latterly a bible for some one who wants to return. Amazing work !!
    I am here in the US for the last 13 years and preparing to get back. The first question that arises in my mind is my daughter’s school. She just started her 6th grade here in the public school system. She does not understand Hindi, we are originally from Kerala and we do speak Malayalam at the house ad she is very fluent in speaking mallu, but does not read or write. So If every thing related to my job searches goes well and I move to India (possibly Bangalore or Chennai) . How easy is to find a school that could accommodate a child who is in the middle school and do not know the native language.
    Thanks

  30. Thinking about quitting then this will help you out big time, on September 10th, 2011 at 12:25 pm Said:

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