Returning to India: A Woman's Culture Shock After US Life

After spending over a decade in the United States, an Indian woman made the decision to relocate back to her homeland with her family. While she expresses that her new life in Hyderabad has allowed her to reconnect with family members, there are still several aspects of her previous life in the US that she finds herself missing. In a candid discussion featured on the Instagram page DeshWaapsi, which highlights the experiences of Indians returning from abroad, she shared her thoughts on adjusting to life in India, the surprises her children encountered, and the advice she would offer to other Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) contemplating a similar transition. Although the video has since been removed, her insights remain relevant for many.

The woman recounted her time in Cupertino, California, where she lived for 11 years, while her husband spent 16 years in the US. The couple, who are parents to a seven-year-old and a two-year-old, made the choice to return to India primarily to be nearer to their family. They selected Hyderabad as their new home because many of their relatives reside there, with the woman stating, “My in-laws are here.” When reflecting on what she misses most about her life in the US, she highlighted the friendliness of strangers. “People are so kind there,” she remarked, noting that it was common for individuals to exchange smiles and greetings as they passed one another. She humorously contrasted this with her experiences in India, where she felt that “no one cares.” Her son, adapting to this cultural shift, often asked, “Mummy, why is she not saying hi to me?”