We Made the Move to India! Here’s How It Really Went…
Making the Decision to Move
We finally did it! On January 1st, 2026, we left the comfort of our lives in California and moved across the seas to India.
This was a huge step for my family and me.
After spending the last year working remotely on my startup, my husband and I had to get really honest with ourselves. Like, really honest.
If this was truly going to work the way we envisioned it, I couldn’t keep building from across the world! I needed to be in India. In the middle of the action. In the rooms where decisions are made. With the team. With the customers. With the culture.
So, after a year working remotely on my startup, a change had to be made. It was time to take the leap and commit to at least 2 years of living in India. That would give me enough time to build the organization, products, culture, and customers.
Because I couldn’t move without the kids, and Kevin needed to stay in the U.S. to focus on his startup, we had to make the painful decision that the kids would come with me, and Kevin would stay behind.
It wasn’t easy, but within 6 months, we had bags sent to India, a school picked out, teams ready for my arrival, and our date set for January 1st.
As we got closer and closer to the day of our move, emotions got heavier. The kids were sad. I was sad. To leave my husband, their dad, family, friends, and our comfortable life behind came with a lot of ups and downs, but there was also so much excitement in starting a new adventure!
Truthfully, I take a long time to make big decisions. But, once I finally do, I’m all in. No going back. No second-guessing. I like to adopt the same philosophy as Tim Gunn on Project Runway when he says… Make it work! And that’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re making it work – despite the challenges, fears, and what-ifs.
Getting Adjusted: The Reality of Transition
I have an amazing support system in India, thankfully!
My dad, who also happens to be the founder and CEO of iVP Semi, and my mom, the glue that holds everything together, prepared so many things for us before we arrived, making the transition extremely seamless for us. We are SO thankful for them!
The kids had a driver ready to take them to school and activities, their rooms already set up how they wanted, and their own personal closet spaces cleared. The transition for the kids was beyond amazing! They love their school (it’s an American school with catered lunch from the Taj… so yes, that helps). They already had friends in our condo complex from summers spent here with their grandparents. I’m so happy seeing them adapt quickly and in ways I didn’t expect.
Unfortunately, I haven’t had that same experience. This transition has been really difficult for me actually.
I’m the type of person who’s used to doing everything for myself. Managing my business. Having my own environment and routines. So, suddenly being in a place that wasn’t my own felt… strange.
One funny (but not so funny at the time) example was when I couldn’t even figure out how to make toast in the kitchen! We have the most amazing chef who cooks for us, but due to Pongal holidays, he was gone. And I was lost. There was no toaster. I couldn’t find the butter. I was scrambling around the kitchen, hungry and frustrated – not a good combination! Just simply trying to make breakfast and cling to some normalcy in my routine proved more difficult than I thought… First world problems, I know! But, sometimes it’s the little things that end up being the biggest pain points during a transition.
Starting the Start-Up
At the end of the day, the whole reason for this move is to continue building my startup, iVP Semi.
And the good news is…
That part has been going AMAZING!
The first couple of weeks were all about getting the kids settled and finding our new rhythm. We snuck in a trip to my village for Pongal and just let life breathe a little. Then it was time for my first trip to Bangalore. I’m actually typing this while I’m here!
And wow, the difference in being here in person is immediate.
Decisions that used to take days while working remotely now happen in ten minutes just standing in a hallway! Conversations move faster. Clarity comes quicker. Being here in the middle of the action is really changing everything, just as I had hoped. I’m starting to see that the sacrifice will be worth it.
Things I’m Still Figuring Out:
I’m sure there are WAY more things than just these, but these are the immediate ones:
I’ve been staying in a hotel every time I come to Bangalore, and it’s been… rough. The horrible traffic commute, recycled hotel air, and unappetizing food options has me considering renting an apartment.
I’m trying to figure out how often I need to come to Bangalore. The team is here, and the decision-making needs to be here; however, I need to balance it out with spending time with the kids in Chennai. Juggling parenting with business is always a tough balance – one that I’m still figuring out myself!
You wouldn’t know it based on how much I fly, but I have the worst flight anxiety. I need to figure out the best way to get around since my customers are all over India. I did test out the train to Bangalore this Monday, and it was quite comfortable! Although, I had to wake up at 4am, go directly from the train station to work, and run on barely any sleep that night. Somehow, that still seems more appealing than flying!
My biggest struggle, of course, has been missing my husband every day. Thankfully, we talk almost every day to keep each other sane and grounded.
I’m learning that temporary discomfort can lead to some of the greatest rewards. So, we make it work in the meantime! We remind each other of what matters. We embrace the change, uncertainty, and discomfort temporarily, because building towards a better future will make it all worth it.