About Us

Hey there, fabulous readers! I’m Shantanu Balchandani

Your friendly neighborhood Dost & Host, armed with wit and a side of sarcasm.

Now, let me tell you, I’ve watched my pals and my brother, Bimal Mirchandani – who, by the way, is the mastermind behind this blog (so if you don’t like it, you know who to blame!) – navigate the wild rollercoaster of life abroad.

From hoarding their beloved Indian snacks (seriously, how many packs of bhujia can one person own?) to tackling the chaotic market of renting as an international student and my wife, Bhawna Balchandani, who always has a foot in the US—oh, the stories I could tell!

And let’s not forget about those glorious moments of hustling for some extra cash while juggling studies, all in the name of saving up for the holy grail of purchases: a car or maybe an actual house.

And yes, your dream Green Card is on the list—don’t worry, we’ve got all the sneaky tips you need!

Welcome to “India to States,” where this isn’t just a blog—it’s a whole community, my friends! We’re all in this together, and who better to understand the immigrant struggle than fellow adventurers in the same boat? (Trust me, we’re all just trying to figure out how to parallel park in this crazy land!)

But wait, there’s more! We proudly wear our embarrassing moments like badges of honor, and oh boy, do we have some hilariously messed-up tales about cultural hiccups and learning how to adult in America.

Our blog is bursting at the seams with inspiring stories from fellow NRIs who have made it big—and they didn’t even have to sacrifice their mom’s recipes!

Now, let’s get real for a second. We may not have all the answers (we’re still Googling some of this ourselves!), but we’ll make sure you crack a smile or two along the way.

So grab your favorite chai, sit back, and join us as we balance our desi roots while living our best lives abroad. Let’s do this!