• By Sakshi Srivastava
  • Tue, 15 Jul 2025 01:12 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

What happens when you switch countries but stay in the same job? For Varsha, a product marketing lead at Amazon, it felt like stepping into an entirely new world. After seven years of working in India, Varsha relocated to the company’s New York office—and the cultural transition, she admits, was tougher than expected. 

In an Instagram post that has since sparked conversation across platforms, Varsha shared five major differences she observed between corporate life in India and the United States. While the role remained unchanged, the unspoken norms and social dynamics, she wrote, were "a whole new world."

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Here’s What She Found Most Striking

1. Solo Lunches, Not Social Hours: Unlike the Indian office culture where lunch often doubles up as a social ritual, in the US, it's a more solitary affair. "People eat at their desks or take a walk—social lunch breaks aren’t really a thing," she noted. The absence of group meals, she said, was one of the first things that made the workday feel different—and lonelier.

2. Quiet, Formal Work Environments: Varsha observed a distinct change in the atmosphere at the workplace. In contrast to the bustling, chatty vibe of Indian offices, US workplaces are quieter and more formal. Spontaneous conversations are rare, and even informal coffee chats need to be scheduled—sometimes weeks in advance.

3. Expectation of Independence: In India, Varsha experienced more hands-on support, with colleagues regularly checking in and offering help. In the US, however, the culture leans heavily towards self-reliance. “You’re expected to figure things out on your own,” she said, highlighting the steep learning curve for newcomers unfamiliar with this hands-off approach.

4. A Clear Work-Personal Life Divide: Another adjustment was the emotional distance at work. “Small talk rarely evolves into deeper conversations,” she wrote, explaining how the separation between professional and personal lives often left her feeling isolated.

5. Stronger Work-Life Balance: Despite the challenges, Varsha acknowledged a key upside: people in the US are better at maintaining boundaries. "There is a genuine work-life balance," she said, appreciating how employees routinely log off at a reasonable hour to focus on their personal lives.

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Her post concluded with a reassuring note for others going through similar transitions: “Nobody really prepares you for the emotional shift of working abroad—but if you’re in the middle of it: you’re not alone. It does get easier. You just start finding your rhythm, one lonely lunch and awkward coffee chat at a time.”

The post triggered a wave of responses. Some disagreed, saying their experiences were more social. One user commented, “Maybe it is different for your team! I have teammates from different countries and we eat together almost every day!” Others related deeply. “I miss the chai pe charcha,” another user wrote.