Watch: After 20 Years in Germany..He Still Can't Decide Between India and Germany

3:14 And then I came to know that in Germany education is for free and it was for me a golden moment to to to try for that and I applied and I I came I got visa and came to Germany. So basically coming Germany was two thing one education was for free that was the first motivation and secondly I was knowing that okay German automotive is kind of and technology is very known and I'm coming from mechanical engineering so it was known but I came really main motivation was that education also >> got it and you said you worked for some time like so you worked for an year or two before applying for the colleges in Germany >> I worked worked I think it was five months I worked and I I worked during my study also I worked in Mumbai for a couple of I would say couple of months before my result came I wanted to improve my English coming from the village my English was very poor and I wanted to

4:14 Improve so I went to call center I worked there to earn some money and improve my English and then in and went to Pune it was Mumbai I went to Pune and in Pune I worked for five months as I remember is a very small company so I don't have really very big working experience in in India but that was the time where I worked there. >> Got it.

4:38 And also applied. >> So when you went to Germany what was your definition of success like you know going abroad and all that stuff right? So what was that you are like okay I want to achieve this because there is a driven factor like you wanted to go abroad. So how do you how did you how do you define that? >> It was very very easy. I just wanted I I thought okay like very like other students also when I talk now you go abroad and everything is waiting for you. Success is waiting for you. So my kind of thing was also I will go there I'll study and then I'll I'll get a big title and I wanted to I I love cars. So big car big title and sufficient money. That was my my motivation and I was thinking like when I go to abroad it will come automatically.

5:27 >> Got it. And what's the hard reality of living abroad then? >> Wow. That that that's really it's it's not like you think you come visa is the most difficult part. I would say visa is the most easiest part even though that is not easy. So coming here it was like firstly when when I landed here language was the biggest problem. So basically on airport also that time 2006 nobody no one were able to explain me reply my questions it was time hard time yeah and also the cultures the culture is totally different Indian culture is different Indian we are we are roaming with many people here you have to you are focusing on yourself you know food food thing different food here people eat meat and I'm I'm a Hindu brahmin so it was for me big challenge to find some some that kind of finding friends lot of things. So it it is not easy if you come abroad. Yeah.

6:29 Got it. And I know you went there in 2006. We we are here in 2026. There are some hard realities like 20 years passed by like you know life has evolved, life has changed like how was the overall like experience in Germany? Look basically I wanted to be here after my study for two three years that was my my main goal. So I never plan to remain longer in the beginning. but suddenly when I after study or during study I I felt like this country is really really for me. It's like it's not India for sure this is not India but the country is very nice. So it's very clean. The rules and regulations are very transparent.

7:22 People are very friendly. In the beginning they don't really involve you but once you know them they really integrate you >> and the working culture everything is it's it's it's very nice. So there is no hierarchy structure like boss is saying and everything is is true. So you have your own voice also. So in 20 years what I can say is also changed many things because I think my 2006 2006 there were not so much Indians that time. There were very less Indian stores Indian less Indian restaurant and when I came I came to a rural area. So that area was really except my college university it was for me very lonely you know and and leaving your family in India coming here try to to establish something one thing was like college time that time you are busy but after college time that was also very difficult so it's like in the evening sitting alone looking from the window everything very

8:24 Quiet disturbing nowadays I think this is changing I see a lot of Indian students coming here. there are lot of temples where you can go lot of Indian restaurants. I feel like many spices and things from India you can buy here easily easier than than India. So it's that things has changed now. This Germany is also many people can speak now English and they appreciate also. So it's like it it has changed a lot from when I compare from 2006. >> That's interesting because when many people move abroad they optimize for money but after 20 years it sounds like you're optimizing for something

9:12 Completely different. So I mean let's go back to I think the thing that you mentioned right you defined what success would be when you went to Germany now that you lived there for 20 years what matters you today now that didn't matter in 2006. Oh well 2006 as I as I said I wanted to have big title. I wanted to be manager big good car lot of money at this moment I think the these all things are not very important. So important is at this moment what is your surrounding how your kids are growing which career perspective do you have? do you feel home here here or not? So many things changed. So now you you also plan for the retirement. Okay, I'm not so old. I'm 44 years old. But then also you know that okay now the the the one half is finished and next half you have to plan also something. So it's like

10:14 Completely my my expectation is different. So it's not like money title big cars but at this moment stability mental peace career perspective surroundings health perspective and also like if you are here what your family in India is doing can you support them if they need you can you go there so these all are the things which are I think now

10:41 >> got it and where does home feel like now for do it's a very touchy question. So basically I really feel Germany and India both as my home and it basically match with this Jan Bumi and Karnbumi you know so I I I'm born in India for sure I have my family my parents but I spent my golden moments 21 years when I was really full with power in Germany I have my m friend circle here I have my my sport club here my work here I got lot of successes here so it's Like for me when I'm in Germany I miss India and when I'm in India I miss Germany. So when I go to India for one or two days it take me to settle down and exactly same when I come back it take one two day that I say okay now I'm again in Germany so let's do but basically I feel

11:41 Both country as my home. >> Got it. And what are the things that you miss in India while in you know from Germany and like that vice versa like what are the things from India that you miss while in Germany? So well when I go to India first thing I miss is the fresh air you know so in Germany the air quality is good and you go India suddenly you feel it's not like I I don't want to say near to you because we are developing at this moment there are lot of construction many things are happening but this is one thing which I feel and it take two three days to to date because if you're leaving here in such atmosphere where everything is clean secondly when I'm In India, I miss my sports club. So, I have my sports club.

12:33 I go on weekends. I play there. here my friends also. I miss my car. So, when I'm in India, I don't drive because of the traffic. No rules, you know. So, many many things I I miss when I'm in India. >> I I I miss my daughter. My daughter is here in Germany. So, when I'm in India, I miss my daughter the most. Yeah. Where are you right now in terms of the thoughts like you know living in Germany or living in India or spending time in both countries like what are your thoughts and how are you navigating? I mean do you think about this and if so like how do you think about it?

13:19 >> Yeah. So retirement planning basically my dream would be to be in both countries. So kind of doing something which is connecting India and Germany you know. So if I retire maybe I'll spend time here also and I'll spend time in India also and it depends how everything will go but I don't want to miss both countries. so let's see how it will it will go but basically I will try to be as much as possible in both countries when I retire. Got it. From an advice perspective, right, when people are considering about returning to India, what should they deeply think about before making that decision?

14:10 One thing I had also discussions with many many of my friends they they went back to India and when they were here they were asking me hey I'm going to India and I said do this these these things and they they did not. So basically they went to India went India back and lately they they they started comparing and then they wanted to come back and it was difficult for them because of the visa things. So what I say to people who are NRIs who are living in in Germany or abroad they just don't decide based on emotions they should decide on data and facts. So basically they should start thinking talking pro and and and contra for everything and talk with the friends talk with the colleagues which are which are working there put themsel in the shoes of the people who are working in India also the health system also the

15:11 Political system also the the the crowd which you have there also the air quality also food the friends all these things and make this a table and based on the table you can decide what is important for you what is not important for you also I suggest people don't decide something just take some break two three months break go in India be there with your family and then check if that is India which you are expecting because in 20 years 30 years India is not the same India which these people for which we left you know so therefore these are some some facts they should take some facts based decision and not just emotion based decision because when you go to India people think all the for you when you go for few days they are really waiting for you because they have not seen you since one year but

16:11 Once you are there they are very busy Indian life is very very busy they are busy with their own work and suddenly If you suddenly you will feel like oh that is not the case where people are just waiting for you. So then they are going to their office they are busy with their business. So there are so many things which we people must think before decide anything.

16:38 >> no thanks for sharing that. Maybe along the same lines what's holding you back about moving? So I mean if you if you were if you were going back to 2011 you know that would have the decision you have made. Now we are in 2026. What are the other factors where you are not able to make that decision? I mean India is still growing. So anything that you can provide some insight on that. >> Yeah. First thing is like as I said I my wife was German. So I had a German Indian daughter. So she's growing here. So for me this is also one aspect is like I I want to spend time with my daughter. I want to see my daughter growing. One thing second thing is the working culture. The working culture in German companies is is dream. It's like look today Saturday we are talking on Saturday. Saturday Sunday nobody is disturbing you. This is your private time. So work life balance in German company in Germany is Indian maybe employee I don't know how

17:40 They they have but as I hear from other my my colleagues friends this is not like that and also health point of view so I I was suffering from sinocitis when I was in India so I was knezing every day and here these are some some things which I feel comfortable so there are lot of things which I miss yeah for sure. But working culture, work life balance, my family, my daughter here, I I I like to drive on peace. I like to drive 200 kilometer per hour. So this is not possible at least not everywhere in India. You know,

18:20 >> if there was one thing you wished someone would have told you in 2006 when you moved to Germany, right? is there anything that you would tell like someone who is starting off like who is you know just moved to abroad or who is considering moving abroad like what are the things that maybe is there anything that you would suggest or tell them? >> Yeah sure I would say first thing is ask question do I really need to go abroad by buy questions. So do I want to something which I cannot get in India or in any not in India their own home home country. and if they say okay this is a thing which I'm missing here and I can only get abroad go if you think like okay I want to make more money because of euro and Indian conversation rate but then you have to also think about the expenditure. So I earn in euro but I spend also in euro.

19:17 So many many things which people must think and then they have to make a plan like my plan was I go there I'll come back after study or after study I'll work for 2 three years and come back but I I did not follow my plan and I will suggest to all people make a plan and stay on the plan okay you can adopt the plan but stay on the plan because I feel if I would go in 2006 then I'll study until 2008 and I'll work maybe for 3 years 2011 11 I'll go back to India because in the last 10 15 years India grew very very fast and many people think like people are living abroad therefore they have money they have car and everything but in the meantime I see my friends they are doing much better than me in India so these all all are the things which maybe grass is not green on another side just because you the the visa thing is very tough that doesn't mean that Europe and abroad is really the dream place it's a full of

20:18 Challenges.

20:21 >> is there anything that we haven't covered that you want to bring up with the audience today? basically we we brought everything but what I can tell to to to people who are listening or who will listen later is like emotion is one thing but this but but keep always in mind that before taking any decision you have to made your decision based on data and facts take time don't hurry and if you take decision and if you feel like this decision was not right then change that decision as soon as possible because as long as you go into the wrong direction it will be very difficult to come back yeah got it so let's have a quick rapid fire it's very quick one so you need to choose between India or Germany for different categories the first one is

21:23 Raising kids >> which would be better >> raising Yeah, >> I would say Germany. okay. I I I don't want to say it's difficult in India because if you have lot of money, you can also grow your kid in India. But average level I would say in Germany it is easier because school system is free. medical system is free and government take care of education, health of kids. So I would say Germany. But if you are very rich in India, India can also be the same standard even better. >> What about quality of life at age 50? >> that is also one thing is it's like who are with you and what is your financial situation? So I remember my father got cancer last year and he died. So it was difficult. It's very very expensive in India and even

22:24 Though if you want to spend money if you don't have connections this is my experience it was very very difficult to get even a room for my father in in the hospital. So from medical side I would say at 50 Germany yeah if you walked in Germany but then one point is also important loneliness. So in Germany everything is there, system is there but if you don't have family there, if you don't have friends there, if you don't have someone who stay with you during your 50s or 50 plus, then this is a tradeoff which you want. Do you want a best hospital or you want to be with best people? So this is the trade-off which we have to decide. >> Okay. And the last one is mental peace.

23:14 >> Okay. Soundwise I would say Germany is quiet. Sure. but this is again the thing with which person you feel your mental peace. >> Yeah. >> So if you have good family, your kids growing here, you have a good job, you are not ill, then from mental peace point of view, I would say depends. It depends. So I feel also like many people many pe many friends my family they say what you are doing in Germany we are much happier than you. So it's like it's mental peace is anyhow something which is not fix it's personto person different. >> Yes. So in in this case I would say important is not which country important is with rich people and in which health conditions also one last maybe point to my my audience I'm very active on LinkedIn basically especially from your career point of view if somebody want to see what is happening outside what is happening India feel free to connect with me because all these things

24:15 On social media what I do is this is with the motivation giving back to the society and if one or two person can get benefit from my experience or experience from the person like me, I think we will be very very happy. >> Yeah, appreciate you doing that and thank you very much and we will provide the link on how you can connect to NRAJ. so you can reach out if there are some specific questions or you know advice that you need. So yeah, thanks again. I really appreciate it. >> Thank you Vinas. Have a nice day. Bye-bye.