A Reddit user mentioned a list of reasons for leaving India and moving to America for the second time.
In a viral Reddit post, the Indian-origin US citizen shared a vision for those planning to return to India permanently. After spending five years trying to make Mumbai work, Person claims it is important to have an ‘exit strategy’ or an option to fall back on if change fails. The person shared that they spent 13 years in America and decided to stay in India for 5 years, but then came back to the US.
A Reddit post about moving from the US to Mumbai and then moving back to America has resonated with many expats. (Representative photo). (pixels)”Regretted returning to India for 5 years, returned to US – sharing my experience,” Reddit The user wrote, adding, “I have a US citizenship so there was an option to return to the US – and I chose to return.”
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The person added, “I grew up in Mumbai, my parents are still there. Came to US for post graduation and studied/worked here for 13 years, got my citizenship through marriage. I wanted to go back to India for the same reasons people are sharing here – missing family, food, culture, family support. I have a 3 year old so family support was there and we took a big help to move back to Mumbai. The first 3-6 months felt amazing but then reality hit us. Start hitting hard.
The Redditor listed several reasons behind the decision, claiming the family had to contend with judgmental social attitudes about weight and parenting, and a work culture that lagged behind the US in both ethics and innovation.
“After all, it felt like we gave up a lot financially, professionally and in terms of quality of life by moving to India at the peak of the AI boom. So we came back at the end of last year and are very happy with our decision. We are lucky that we get to try both sides so I wanted to share in the hopes that it will give everyone more information, especially if you don’t have the option to return. In the end, it’s your personal decision based on what works for you and your family – I definitely romanticized going back to India and hope everyone can choose more objectively than I did.”
A post by a Reddit user. (Screengrab (Reddit).)How was the social media response?One person asked, “I’ve been thinking about something, and I hope it comes out the right way. Do you think that knowing that you had US citizenship, and going back was always a relatively easy option, might make it difficult to fully commit to working in India?” I sometimes wonder if results change when there’s no fallback plan, when you really feel like you’ve burned the boats and have to make it work. Do you think things would have played out differently if going back wasn’t an option? Interested to hear your thoughts. Let me know if I’m not framing it well.” The OP replied, “Yeah, that’s a good question… I’m sure we would have tried harder to ‘make it work’ if we didn’t have the option of moving back to the US. People always adapt to difficult situations. But it’s like wearing shoes that are too small. You can keep walking and find ways to survive, but it will hurt and limit you. If you have the option of wearing the right shoes, you won’t have to try to get used to a life of hardship – hope that makes sense.”
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Another added, “Thanks for sharing, I’m basically in the same boat, 13 years in the US, but one big caveat is that I don’t have US citizenship, so it would be a one way move. The only reason is family, financial and cultural proximity. I don’t see a huge fit for me, but I don’t want to regret not being able to spend time with my parents later. I am the same St was worried you’d hit them, so it’s good to see.”
A third commented, “Thanks for sharing. I have a strong urge to move back from Germany, especially after having a baby. But I think I’m too scared to go back.” A fourth wrote, “Good that you had the option to try both sides. I was wondering about part of the issues you mentioned above, didn’t you anticipate them before you moved? Were they blown out of proportion?” (I too, grew up in Mumbai, worked for 8 years, and am now planning to return) I’m anticipating this reverse culture shock, but maybe I’m underestimating it.”
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)
Trisha Sengupta works as Lead Content Producer at Hindustan Times with six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the Internet’s hottest moments, she specializes in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance and human emotion. He often covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. His work often highlights the movements and visions of global newsmakers and personalities such as Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai Crown Prince and Mr. Beast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the rise of AI-powered platforms like Grok and xAI, he provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the Internet, Trisha is probably offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. He balances his fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading his “human” origins for silicon ones while mastering AI to future-proof his storytelling.Read more
