Hello, I am Julia Smith from London, England where I previously worked as an accountant in the real estate industry. I lived in an old house in south east London with my husband and two adorable cats.
When and how did you decide to move to Mumbai? Is it complicated to settle down there?
My husband was asked by his company - Which? Magazine - to head up their Indian operation called 'Right Choice'- a consumer magazine for the Indian public. After we agreed we would make the move (and we were excited about it!) he transferred to Mumbai on his own in February 2012. He managed to view over 100 properties all on his own before settling on a nice three bedroom apartment in Bandra. Finding accommodation in Mumbai is usually the biggest challenge for expats in this city due to the exorbitant rents and poor supply of quality dwellings.
I did not join him until June of that year as I had to work out my notice period where I was working. So luckily for me, everything was sorted by the time I got here and I found it very easy to settle. Prior to arriving in Mumbai, I also sorted myself out a three month volunteering placement at an NGO that deals with malnutrition in one of the slum areas of the city. Having not done such a thing before, I found it a real eye opener and learnt a lot. I now sit on the Executive Council of that NGO where I advise on Strategic Planning, HR matters and of course Finance (which is linked to my past career). This way, I feel I can contribute in some way during my stay in Mumbai as well as keeping my CV up to date.
Have you ever lived abroad before? How many countries have you visited?
I have never lived abroad before but I have travelled quite a bit - I have visited about 30 countries in all - mostly in Europe but also, USA, Canada, Japan and Brazil. I have never been to India before except to visit Goa (which really isn't the same!). I love seeing new sites, eating different cuisines and picking up souvenirs on my travels - hence why it wasn't a problem when we were offered the chance to come to Mumbai - we considered it a fantastic new opportunity to explore. A lot of people have preconceptions and fears about India - some of them true and some of them not. So we were quite brave I guess.
What do you like the most about Mumbai (or India)?
Mumbai is not a beautiful place but the people are amazing. I am especially fond of the school children who wear pristine school uniforms and neat pigtails/side partings and always have a smile for you. In a city where poverty can be overwhelming, the generosity of those with very little is astounding. People don't seem to dwell on what they don't have - instead they work hard to better their lives and the lives of their children with a belief that anything is possible. I also find the culture and religious diversity interesting and colourful. We have many opportunities to travel and explore - from the backwaters of Kerala, to the handicrafts of Rajasthan to the tigers of Kaziranga in Assam. Wonderful!
How is/was the cultural shock? What are the main differences with UK, your home country?
I personally did not find coming to India such a cultural shock - mainly because my husband and I are such adaptable people. But also as expats, you can end up being thrown together with other Westerners, which offers a lot of support. There are obviously countless difference between the UK and India - far too many to go into here! But I think my husband has experienced the most change because he operates in an office environment on a daily basis and that can often be difficult to get used to. Communications can be a lot more difficult and it can be easy for the two nationalities to misunderstand each other. Working at an NGO - I have enjoyed cultural differences such as eating together at lunch time, sat cross-legged on the floor whilst sharing food and Bollywood gossip. What I do not enjoy is being stalked by shop assistants in shops and having the obvious pointed out 'this is a wooden elephant'...'this is a lipstick'...that kind of thing. Customer service is not yet a 'big' concept here in India!
Do you miss anything from your homeland?
I miss going for country walks and I miss our amazing supermarkets. I also miss fresh, green, risk free salads and tap-water. Sometimes I miss the cold - the heat in India can get to me.
Any 'memories of an expat' you would like to share with us? Your best souvenir? Or maybe your worst experience?
I have so many memories to take away with me and I have only been here just over a year! Setting up the blog and writing regularly has been an amazing experience in itself. I had never written before and although it was mostly to communicate with friends and family back home, BombayJules has turned into a useful resource for other expats and tourists. Mumbaikars often write to me to tell me that they have learnt something about their city from my blog and I find that so satisfying. I have made new friends and contacts through BombayJules, I now have a column in our expat magazine and the Times of India have recently asked to syndicate my travel and food blogs on their website. So exciting! It's brought out a creative side in me that I didn't know I had. Photographing people for my blog gives me so many fantastic mental souvenirs. Indians are often delighted to be asked by a westerner for their picture - and they also love to ask a westerner to join them for a photograph. My husband gets stopped all the time because he is so fair haired. The blog is definitely going to be the longest lasting souvenir of our time in India where everything has been noted down meticulously!
What does a typical day as an expat in Mumbai look like?
After my husband leaves for work in the morning (making me my first cup of tea of the day!), I get up and I'm at my desk by 9 am. One thing I do not miss about the UK is getting up at 6.30 am in order to commute to work! I usually write two or three blogs a week and if they require research or photographs, I will go out and do those or spend time considering my subject matter. Our lovely cleaner Reetha comes in at 10.30 and spends a few hours mopping and vacuuming the floors, doing the washing up and doing the laundry. Here in India, expats are expected to gainfully employ staff and it has taken me while to get used to that - I don't really like having someone in the house, especially when I am trying to concentrate. I spent two or three days a week doing stuff for the NGO - from writing funding and award proposals, working on the strategic plan or helping out with the numerous tasks that pop up on a weekly basis. There is always something to do there. I am bad at exercising and probably should do yoga, but instead I might go out once or twice a week to meet friends for lunch or coffee. Being a 'trailing spouse' in a city of 'trailing spouses', means that there is always someone at a loose end to socialize with. Another luxury I am not usually afforded back home in the UK. We also have a car and driver which means I can go anywhere, anytime if I need to - so long as I don't mind hanging around for hours in Mumbai's awful traffic. Having a car and driver is also a very normal luxury for expats and the wealthy middle-classes of India.
I love to go up to the local market three or four times a week to get fresh veg which is so cheap! We also have a great butcher nearby where I can get good quality chicken, beef and pork. Most evenings we cook (my husband is a better cook than me) but if not, we go out for dinner or get in a takeaway. The takeaway services in Mumbai are awesome! After that, we watch a bit of bad Indian TV and then go to bed.
India celebrates its independence day this month is there anything special organized in the country? How is it celebrated?
India celebrates its independence from British Rule on 15th August (by the way - us British still get on with Indians very well!). The Indians celebrate this with a national holiday and a lot of flag raising. Mostly it is just a time for friends and family and there are no great big celebrations with loads of fireworks and lights like you get with Holi and Diwali. In Mumbai - in our experience - it is a relatively quiet affair although I gather it is a much bigger event in Delhi.
When did you start your blog? For what reasons?
I started my blog immediately upon arrival in Mumbai. At first it was to help communicate with loved ones and to help pass the time. But it soon became more than that. As I started to explore the city and its people, I started sharing lots of information about where to shop or where to visit and realized that other people enjoyed reading my reviews. I have a passion for colonial antique furniture and have shared my finds on my blog. BombayJules is now especially well known for advising on where to buy antique furniture in Mumbai!
Did you make new friends with your blog?
Yes I have made friends with other bloggers as well as women who have contacted me through the blog asking advice about Mumbai. Moving to India is a very daunting prospect for many and sometimes I can re-assure them or give them information that will help them make that transition.
Why did you register on https://www.expat.com and what do you think of the website?
I thought that https://www.expat.com was a very well laid out and easily navigable website - making it easy for other expats to access blogs in the city of their choice.
Which advice would you give to the other Expat blog members who would like to settle in Mumbai (or in India)?
I would say to anyone coming to Mumbai that although it may at first appear daunting, you must embrace it and enjoy it. The people and the culture is incredibly interesting and colorful. If you are a 'trailing spouse' like me - find something worthwhile to do with your skills or you may get bored. Find an NGO where you can share your skills - there are so many in this city who need help. Join an expat group such as Mumbai Connexions or the American Women's Club - these groups organize coffee mornings and events and are an important support network to many women in this city. You don't need to be alone! Also, just in case people think that India is all grot - Mumbai has some great restaurants and nightspots and there is always something new opening. There are some good places to shop and there's not much you can't get that you can't find at home. You just need to dig a little deeper. Lastly as long as you don't drink tap-water or street food and generally act sensibly, you are unlikely to fall ill.
