Moving to States for the first time. a. Things to take care before leaving India b. Things to take care after moving to Redmond c. Things to take care overall in States that first timer should be aware of.
a. Spend more time with family and friends, you won't see them for an year. If you are a guy, get your woman with you coz you won't get any here. Get some basic medications. Getting an international drivers license will help you till you get a US license. b. Get ready for a depressing winter. If you plan to cook everyday, make sure you don't have too sensitive neighbors. c. Making friends is hard in the US as compared to India. Be more social and oh, use a perfume everyday. Look into a family plan on mobile service (it's significantly cheaper), get an ssn, get a driver's license (even if you don't plan to keep a car although it's a necessity in most places), get a few credit cards (discover gets you a good credit card without history) to start building history.
đ€Šââïž just donât over do the perfume. Just be civil
Hygiene. Donât be cheap in life. Wear decent Clothes, think long term rathe than the guy with cheap clothes and BO.
Beware of Redmond politics. Itâs as toxic as it gets. People wonât think twice before throwing you under the bus (but theyâre in the extreme minority, rare to get an utter a$$ to work with) If youâre moving on a work visa, STFU till you get your GC and only then FO anywhere else if you want to explore the world outside M$. Aside from these doomsday things, what everyone else has written - family, time off, and oh yeah, be aware of the Seattle freeze đ
You're moving to US because you are one of the high skilled employees at work. So that's 1% achievement in the big picture. There are other things that matter like FOB manners, Lifestyle, American social culture, US English accent vs Indian English accent, do everything as if you are presenting yourself - avoid being petty. It improves your outlook and quality of life. There is a reason why Indians dislike other Indian. You don't want to be just another stereotype from 20 years ago.
Take up showering as a daily ritual
And American deoderant (it's more effective).
Leave the needful in India. Remember to revert back to motherland every year to meet family.
Get an American license as soon as possible. It helps with lower insurance sooner. Get 2-3 American credit cards as soon as possible (after your paycheck) to build credit. Be sure to use it no more than 20% a month of it's limit, and pay it fully every month.
Be sure to notice the little things, like fresh air, clean lakes and rivers and lack of sewer smell in the entire state of Washington. The weather will be hit or miss but youâll have easy access to nature the way it was meant to be, untouched by a billion humans. Get out and spend time in the mountains, try skiing, go fishing, go hiking, maybe buy a motorcycle or a pickup truck. Embrace the way of life in an area infinitely less inhabited than you might be used to. The PNW really is paradise if you embrace it.
Get a mattress from India if you like the hard ones. Get some prescribed antibiotics that suit you. Get your ssn and driver's license here asap. Get green card application started. Enjoy the weekends here while it is still sunny. At work, be humble but dont take shit. Show backbone when people try to dominate you or throw you under the bus. Get familiar with culture and lifestyle. You will have to unlearn and learn many things.
TC or GTFO