Young Family's Life Who Lived in India for 3 Years After Moving from US

Key Takeaways

• Strategic career choice: Working for an American startup while in India helped maintain work-life balance
• Masters reality check: Don't believe the glamorous social media posts - it's hard work
• Independence matters: Living away from home teaches valuable life skills
• Global mobility: Career paths don't have to be linear - US to India to Paris is possible
• Work culture awareness: Choose employers carefully based on your lifestyle priorities

The Journey to the US: Masters at Syracuse

Puja moved to the US in 2013 for her Masters in Information Management at Syracuse University in upstate New York:

"The reason why I wanted to move to the US was as simple as I always wanted to pursue a master's degree. The best master's degrees are usually in the US. At that point of time, it was always like you're going to get a secure career."

The Reality of Masters Life

Puja offers a reality check for those considering studying abroad:

"It looks very glamorous in people's stories - do not believe it. People are just going to be sharing the best parts on social media. That is not how it is. You're suddenly going from a very comfortable life back home to a complete unknown where you're doing everything by yourself."

The Value of Independence

Despite the challenges, Puja sees immense value in the experience:

"I would say everyone, even if you're staying in India, stay out of home for a bit. Learn how to stay independent before even you get married because that's a completely different experience."

Key learnings from living independently:

• ✓ Learning to cook and manage a household
• ✓ Making friends from diverse backgrounds
• ✓ Career direction clarity through exposure
• ✓ Self-reliance and problem-solving skills

7 Years in the US: Building a Career

After completing her Masters, Puja spent 7 years in the US building her career before deciding to move back to India with her husband.

The Smart Move: Working for American Company in India

When moving to India, Puja made a strategic career decision:

"In terms of work culture, because I was working for an American startup, I was pretty smart that way too. I made sure that I'm not working for an Indian company only because I still wanted to stick to at least having a bit of work-life balance and not compromising that."

The Trade-offs

Working for a US company while in India came with its own adjustments:

"So, it wasn't a problem. The hours were a bit messed up because I had to work a bit with the American customers as well."

3 Years in India: The Experience

The family spent 3 years living in India, experiencing both the pros and cons of the return:

What Worked Well

• ✓ Family proximity and support
• ✓ Lower cost of living
• ✓ Cultural connection
• ✓ Work-life balance (with right employer)

Challenges Faced

• Adjusting to different work cultures
• Time zone challenges with US clients
• Infrastructure differences

The Next Chapter: Paris

After 3 years in India, the family has now moved to Paris, demonstrating that career paths don't have to be linear:

Advice for Those Considering the Move

For Students Going Abroad

• Don't believe the glamorous social media posts
• Be prepared to do everything yourself
• Value the learning experience beyond academics
• Use the opportunity to become truly independent

For Those Returning to India

• Consider working for international companies to maintain work-life balance
• Be strategic about employer choice based on your priorities
• Accept that time zone challenges may come with remote work
• Keep options open - your path doesn't have to be permanent

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