Image via Wikipediawhat are the few things that need to be looked at while making a move to a new city:
1. Cost of living-
There is a survey done on the cost of living across different cities in the world. Zurich, HK are the most expensive cities in the world.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/jun/30/city-costs-living
In US the living conditions differ from city to city. There are many folks who tell me that they end up saving nothing while staying in the US, as the cost of living, and taxation, can impact money saved.. I was looking at the cities that are most expensive, and realized what happens to the dollar, Euro, or INR in those cities. Sometimes what we can earn really boils down to what we can save.
HK also is very interesting with respect to cost of living.It is a very expensive city. After living in HK for almost three years, I could tell that some Asian countries offer a great lifestyle but at a much higher cost. Housing costs are prohibitive in HK. For the same price, one can afford a very big townhouse in at least some cities in the US.
It's really important to not just know about a new city, new country, but also how to fit in the lifestyle needs with the cost of living. One can earn a lot of money in Manhattan, and have a lifestyle that allows him or her to wine and dine every other day. Life is very different in New Jersey compared to New York. New Jersey is more peaceful: a suburban apartment, and drive to a restaurant once a week in the city. So thinking about the lifestyle, and the cost of living can go a long way in making some choose a city! In India- Delhi, and Bombay have very steep housing prices, and the cost of living is high, but by global standards it still needs to go some distance.
2. Food- What do you like? How much can you experiment with food? I often felt that I am very global when it comes to food! I am still quite a risk taker when it comes to eating. Now I ended up going to Beijing, with Anand(husband), and eating Banana fritters that were being sold next to some creepy, crawly creatures on the wanjifung street. But I do realize that eating in the Indian, and Asian culture is a lot about social interactions. There are times when your parents will visit you, and relatives will come over. There needs to be an option of cooking rice, and curry, or what your family enjoys, as it might make them happier - Why make them eat a fruit tart for dessert when they can like something like a rasmalai (Indian dessert)As a solitary woman, I have often picked up subway sandwich, after walking out of the office, and loved the food by myself. But- the snacky food does not quite go very far with family. So getting to have those options of food is very critical in choosing a place.
3. Language- Local language goes a long way in making someone feel like they belong to a place. I am in Delhi from the last six months, and there are times when I don't understand a word or a slang or what people mean. Having lived in Bombay for so many years, and then going to the far east, and the wild (not so wild) west, my communication skills have remained the same. I have not changed the way I speak, or developed an accent; However- I believe English language changes in style. It's just not enough to know the language by any angle. There are such sharp contrasts in India, that it's difficult to recalibrate the understanding with the language! It's good to understand the local culture, and the local language, but it's also good to know one's limitations, on how far can one go to adjust to the local needs. So knowing the local language, and understanding the synergies with that language, can make us connect with a place. Crap- there are times when I dont understand a proverb, but if it was not for google, I would have really not worked with people from such varied cultures, background ete.cte. Now what does Ainvi mean?? Gawd?
4. Driving/ Public Transport- The driving rules change from one country to the other. So does the public transport. It's amazing to get lost in one of the trains in HK, or the tube in London, without really making a fuss about taking the car out from the garage. Car is a necessity in the US. In the two years that I spent at Raleigh, North Carolina, I would have spent almost three fourth of my time, navigating new roads, driving, and attending to the needs of my transport - the gas guzzler- the car. Not to mention the fact that I would get to the gas station and fill gas, and feel very weird about it. Have not gone to the gas station, and filled gas by myself while growing up. It really means a lot if you stay in California, or move to East Coast. It means a lot if you stay in a metropolitan city in India or go to a smaller town. Anyways- things change, and the experience that office commuting offers depends on the mode of transport taken, and the time taken to travel! It can be beautiful if we want it to be and horrific if we go in office hours, in a crowded train in Mumbai! Choose your travel, and think about it before you move! I am a huge fan of cities that have a good form of public transport.
5. Weather: Weather makes a huge impact on our health. Adequate amount of sunshine, can give us all the Vitamin D we want. Are you a monsoon person? or a person who loves thunderstorms? Well sometimes- we don't choose the weather of a place, but maybe we can develop our appetite for the weather! How about liking the sun? How about loving winter? a beach, and sea breeze can perk you up! Thinking about weather can go a long way in making one choose what they want to choose. It's all in the larger context of what has one grown up with? If you have grown up seeing sun, you would not like to go to Canada ; However thinking about this is an important critieria. I do not want to bias people by my opinions. IMHO it's really to do with what you want, and how much you are willing to compromise to get the benefits.
Anyways- there are lot many things that can be covered, and I'd choose to keep them for the next time to come back with my analyses...There would be a part 2 to this post.
