gdjones

Hello, I just thought id check on here to see if theres any ex-pats that have lived in, or live now in Hyderabad. I'd like to find out information about the city and what its like living there, is there many expats? good restaurants? pubs? good places to visit? etc. I've been living in Chicago for the last few years so it's not as though ive never immigrated before and im good at adapting.
Any feedback would be great.
Cheers

jvr20

fantastic city! that's where I was born! You'll love it - it has its fair share of problems but in my opinion its the best city in India! when are you going? Will you be there in time for Divali? A few years ago Divali coincided with the festival of Eid, and the entire city was buzzing with the party atmosphere of both festivals!

(though you may be better posting on the India board, assuming there is one...)

Bob

My geography must have taken a swan dive, because the last I looked, India wasn't part of the ME...

perhaps have luck in the rest of the world section - http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=62

gdjones

hmm, yeah i realised that but thought it was close enough. thanks for the response jvr20, i'm going to repost in the rest of the world section

Blue Cat

good luck, hope it works out, it really wouldn't be for me, though I shouldn't say that as I aint been but watched a cookery program on the tell last week which visited there and it looked a bit dodgy. Can't remember whether you said you had a family?

gdjones

nope, im a 23 year old male, footloose and carefree.

Blue Cat

well in that case it might be worth a shot!! JVR20 is the man to point you in the right direction then.

jvr20

OK but don't be a stranger - i'll visit you in the autumn!

What do you do? I didn't realise westerners your age were moving there ($hit that makes me feel old) - although of course there are many senior management moving to Hyd, B'lore and Pune for the IT.

Are you in IT?

In the UK you probably have some Indian/Pakistani friends - get a few Hindi/Urdi phrases together, will be v useful.

gdjones

Yeah im in IT/Marketing, I do a bit of coding on the side but my main job is Internet Marketing Specialist, search engine optimization and such.
I actually haven't worked or lived in Britain for a couple of years, I got a job straight out of university with a company in Chicago, I was meant to be getting an H-1 visa to stay here in the US but I'm sure you've heard about the visa problems USA have by now. Anyway to cut a long story short my company wanted me to continue to work for them but were unable to keep me in the country, after several meetings we decided that I could continue in my current capacity if I was willing to work at our Hyderabad office for a year. I jumped at the chance as I'm all about experiencing new things and I think it will help me to grow professionally and personally. It is likely that the company will apply for a visa for me to work back in the US next year or, should I do a good job and want to stay I could stay in India.
All in all lifes going to be pretty exciting over the next year or so. I will take note of your advice to learn some common phrases, I have a month off work between when I finish my US work commitment and when I start in India so I should be able to get a bit of revision in.

Dago

I've just come back from a visit there. It is a very busy place at the moment because of a road widening scheme but lively. Stayed in the Taj and room was robbed!!

Interesting geology with large boulders strewn around the place.

I like running but you can't really go out o the streets even at 6am.

The climate is good and it is the home of Biryani - which is noce there.

Buy your booze from the off sales - not the hotel - rip off.

Taj does a good Wed (?) seafood night - with FREE BEER and VODKA. The locals seem not to like the seafood so you get all of these lobsters - fantastic and actually cheap.

Good luck. I bet you are an IT!!

Dags

Bob

After a year in a satellite office, they'll be able to get you an L1 visa which is much better than the H1 as it isn't capped, and much better if you've got a spouse.