For 10 years, I shared a London office at Yves Delorme, a luxury textile brand, with a wonderful colleague whose family was from India. I always admired her holiday pictures from Amritsar or jungle safaris — with no idea that one day, I would be having similar adventures with my own family.
Moving abroad was not a foreign concept for me, however. I am a French and British dual citizen who studied in Mexico during my last semester at Bordeaux’s KEDGE Business School, then got my first job in New York City, in the marketing and communication department of the trade office at the Embassy of France.
In 2007, I was working in Paris when my partner (who later became my husband) was offered a job in London. This was an easy decision, and I even managed to find a new job with a different luxury company within one week! [Editor’s Note: This is the first-ever recorded perfect score on the Gupte Scale!]
By the middle of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were working from home (and with our two children there with us due to the school closures) when my husband was offered the chance to lead a large team in India for KPMG, an auditing and consulting firm. It sounded like a fantastic opportunity for his career and for our family and my own interests.
Up to that point, I had loved working with fashion and textiles (Le Printemps, Bonpoint, Yves Delorme), most recently as the head of marketing at Yves Delorme. Living in India, which is well known for textiles, seemed inevitable as I continued pursuing this passion.
‘A proper adventure’
Moving to India already seemed like a big challenge, but doing so in the middle of a pandemic was a proper adventure. When everything was slowing down elsewhere in the world, we were moving to a unique colorful country unlike any other, ready for new discoveries.
Before we moved, I reached out to other expat families who lived in New Delhi, seeking to understand their lifestyle and what were the best options for a home, school for my kids and any other tips. But, I was still not fully prepared for the crowd, the noise and the dynamism of the capital when we arrived.
For example, traffic is just mad here. India has so many cars, rickshaws, motos and also cows! Literally everywhere. You have to be prepared for passing those cows on the highway and also for the noise as everybody is honking all the time.
Keeping busy and active
I highly recommend that trailing spouses find a way to keep doing what they enjoy and keep busy soon after their moves. The day after I flew from London to India, in January 2021, I went straight to a WeWork office to book a desk, planning to use its many locations around the capital to quickly jump into organizing meetings and calls in a more corporate atmosphere than our temporary hotel quarters (especially with our children in the room, as the pandemic was keeping our new school closed). My former company became my first client.
Using the Gupte Scale, I would rate our move from London to Delhi as a 12 out of 15. The destination is a 4 — India is a spectacular country with much to do and see — and our resources were a 5. But our timing was only a 3, as the second wave of COVID-19 struck India badly, turning what was supposed to be an exciting experience into a seriously stressful one. Only three months after we had arrived, the children and I had to evacuate to my family’s home in France for our safety.
This was a rocky start, but we were able to get back to Delhi a few months later, after the Delta wave had peaked.
Going into business for myself
Quitting a job you like to follow your partner is not an easy decision. But this move also convinced me it was time to launch Studio Mademoiselle Prune, consulting for textile and fashion brands. As a retail expert, I help international companies with their strategy developments, particularly in Europe. I have also launched my own small collection, displayed on Instagram @studio_mademoiselle_prune.
Also, the history and architecture of India is even richer than I had imagined. I joined Seven Cities, a tour group for and by expats, and I now volunteer as a mentor with the current participants as they learn, discover and share Delhi’s compelling history with each other. There is so much to learn and share with others!
WIth school back in session, our two boys are also very much enjoying their time here, learning Hindi and playing cricket. (It does make me wonder which country’s team they will support when they grow up!)
Most of all, I love being around the makers! Discovering the craft and heritage of India has been a marvelous experience. I am often at the bazaars and workshops talking with talented Indian artisans. Working with local textile specialists on my own dresses has allowed me to develop a fuller appreciation and view into a world filled with color.
In August 2021, I had the chance to visit the rustic villages of Manpura Mancheri in Rajasthan and meet extraordinary women who are keeping the traditional craft of hand-knotted carpet weaving alive and creating their own designs. And in Jaipur, about a five-hour drive from Delhi, there are so many skilled artisans, artists and craftsmen from all around India, making it an incredible place to appreciate and learn about block printing, silver jewelry, sculpture, and more.
Staying curious
In addition to my earlier tip about keeping active and busy, I advise trailing spouses to remain curious: ask questions, meet new people, and visit all kinds of places. New experiences and information will enrich your personal life, and may also be useful for your career path.
One ongoing learning curve has been that my work requires travel, but the pandemic has made it especially challenging to organize trips across state and national borders. Preparing travel documents takes more time and research, especially as restrictions and guidelines have kept changing for each country.
The week I left my London office for our move to Delhi, my colleague gave me a statue of Ganesha, an elephant-headed Hindu god known for his wisdom and as a remover of obstacles. So far, this thoughtful gift has certainly brought us a lot of luck.
Got a relocation story of your own to share? Contact us at hello@trailing-spouse.com.
