Kaho - Expat in Mumbai, India

Ms. Kaho Chuzai is a trailing spouse expat in India. She is originally from Japan, and she moved to India due to her husband’s work assignment. Even though she’s originally from Japan. Ms. Chuzai said that she missed America more than Japan, as she has grown to treat the U.S. as her home since it’s the place where she started a family with her husband.

Ms. Kaho said “I don’t miss my home country, Japan, as much as I did when I was younger. I do miss some things about Japan and my husband’s country, the U.S., which is more of my home now.”

Ms. Kaho and her family has settled in India well and has only mentioned difficulties when it comes to obtaining Visas. Ms. Kaho comments “Acquiring visas in my host country is known to be not easy especially if you’re applying for a work visa.  Since I am on a dependent visa, it was not too difficult. It just takes a long time. I did spend 6 hours in the visa office for the first year and 5 hours in the second year.”

Read more of Ms. Kaho’s experience in her full interview below.

Q: Where are you originally from?   

A: Japan

Q: What made you move out of your home country?  

A: Marrying to my American husband and later with his occupation.

Q:  Where are you living now?    

A: Mumbai, India

Q: How did you come to choose this new country of residence?  

A: It was a job assignment for my husband.

Q: How long have you been living in India? 

A: 1 year

Q: What has been the most difficult experience you've had when you were new in India?   

A: Everything takes a long time to be done.

Q: Would you say that formalities like getting visas or work permits and international health insurance was particularly difficult in India? What was your experience with these?   

A: Acquiring visas in my host country is known to be not easy especially if you’re applying for a work visa. Since I am on a dependent visa, it was not too difficult. It just takes a long time. I did spend 6 hours in the visa office for the first year and 5 hours in the second year. 

Q: Are you living alone or with your family? 

A: With my family.

 

Q: How are they adjusting to the Expat Lifestyle?    

A: Yes.  They adjusted very well. 

Q: Was it easy making friends and meeting people? Do you mainly socialize with other expats in India? How did you manage to find a social circle in India?

A: It was not hard as my children go to school and I also joined American Women’s Association and Mumbai Connextion. I socialize with other expats in the city. I met other Japanese parents through my children’s school. 

Q: What are the best things to do in the area? Anything to recommend to future expats?

A: Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Gateway of India, Weekend trip to Pune. I have not been, but Elephanta Cave on Elephanta Island sounds amazing and there are many other places to visit in Mumbai city as well. 

Q: How does the cost of living in India compared to your home?  

A: Some things are very cheap in Mumbai, but many things are as expensive or could be more expensive than in Japan, believe it or not.  I find eating out at a restaurant that caters to expats are more expensive than some restaurants in Tokyo. 

Q: How do you find the local culture and people in India?

A: The local culture is very rich and fascinating. It’s very colorful and people are passionate about celebrations. They celebrate with decoration, food, rituals, music, fireworks and dancing. Indian people are very warm and fun. 

Q: What do you think are the positive and negative sides of living in India?

A: India offers a lot as a Country. Mumbai provides many activities and entertainments for adults to enjoy the life full of culture here.  There is never a dull moment in this city. The activities for little kids might seem rather limited. More kids activities have become available in Mumbai in the recent past, though.  

Q: Do you miss home and family sometimes?  

A: I don’t miss my home country, Japan, as much as I did when I was younger. I do miss some things about Japan and my husband’s country, the U.S., which is more of my home now.   

Q: How do you cope with homesickness?    

A: I hang out with the friends from Japan and the U.S. We make the food from home at home. We also go out to eat food from our home countries: U.S. & Japan. 

Q: Do you have plans to move to a different country or back home in the future?

A: Yes.  We don’t know where we’ll go after India yet. 

Q: What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?

A: In my expat experience in the most recent past 14+ years, the most difficult aspect I faced was the emergency situations with families back home. I lost two grandmothers while I lived in Dakar, Senegal in West Africa. My oldest daughter was only 3 months and 8 months old when my grandmothers passed away and I could not fly home to Japan to their funerals and be with my parents to support them.  Sometimes the timing is not great for flying home for an emergency situation. Since it costs money, flying home is not always feasible. 

Q: What tips can you give other expats living in India? 

A: Be open minded. Enjoy the culture and shopping. For women, if possible, bring supplies of cosmetics as it’s hard to find cosmetics for different skin types. 

Q: Do you have favorite websites or blogs about living in India?

A: Mumbai Boss for restaurant reviews. 

Bombay Jules Blog by a former expat to Mu