Latest news with #Varsha
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
‘No chai pe charcha, no team lunches': Amazon employee's viral post on culture shock after moving from India to US
After seven years of working in India, Varsha, a product marketing lead at Amazon, relocated to the United States with the same company, only to find that the cultural shift was far more intense than she had anticipated. In a candid Instagram video that has since gone viral, she opened up about the subtle yet surprising differences she has noticed in American work life. One of the first things that caught her off guard? Lunchtime. Back in India, team lunches were practically a ritual, a time to connect, unwind, and bond. But in the US, she found that mealtimes are a solo affair. 'Lunches are mostly solo. People eat at their desks or take a walk—social lunch breaks aren't really a thing,' she shared. Another major change was the office vibe itself. American workplaces, she said, tend to be more formal and noticeably quieter. 'No chai pe charcha. No stopping by someone's desk to vent or laugh. Coffee chats have to be scheduled—often weeks ahead,' Varsha noted, highlighting the contrast from the casual camaraderie she was used to in Indian offices. A post shared by Varsha | New York City (@newgirl_in_newyorkcity) She also spoke about the need for independence. In the US, the expectation is that you hit the ground running. 'You have to be way more self-reliant,' she explained, adding that in India, it is common for teammates or managers to check in regularly and offer guidance, something that is not always the case in America. What hit the hardest, though, was the emotional distance, she said. Making meaningful connections at work is not as easy as it was back home, she said. 'People tend to keep work and life separate—which can feel isolating at first,' she admitted. But Varsha also pointed out a major upside to her American experience: respect for personal time. 'Boundaries are beautifully respected. When people log off, they really log off,' she said, appreciating how the workday ends when it ends, with no lingering expectations of late-night calls or weekend check-ins. The post went viral with over 70,000 views, and many netizens shared their views on the post in the comments section. A user shared, 'Probably because I didn't have any work experience in India, but my teammates yap so much and I call them to rant often. Looks like I should value them more. Thanks for sharing.' Another user wrote, 'Brooo, copy paste for Toronto, Canada. I moved after 5 years experience in India, same role.' A third person added, 'Few good things everywhere, and few not so good things. In india it's like a 24×7 work life, but colleagues blend in and it feels like family.' A fourth individual commented, 'There are many more disadvantages and shocks which are not even mentioned.'
NDTV
13-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Woman Lists 5 Striking Differences Between Indian And US Corporate Life: "Nobody really prepares you..."
Varsha, a product marketing lead at Amazon in New York City, shared her experience of transitioning from India to the corporate world in the United States. Highlighting key differences she encountered, Ms Varsha wrote in an Instagram post, "Same job role, new country, but feels like a whole new world." She said that after seven years of working in India, she moved to the US working for the same company, but the shift hit her "harder than I expected". View this post on Instagram A post shared by Varsha | New York City (@newgirl_in_newyorkcity) What are the five differences? Unlike in India, lunches in the US are mostly solo, with people eating at their desks or taking a walk, she said. Social lunch breaks aren't common. "Lunches are mostly solo. People eat at their desks or take a walk-social lunch breaks aren't really a thing," she revealed. She said that US offices are more formal and quieter, with colleagues rarely stopping by each other's desks to chat. Coffee chats need to be scheduled weeks in advance. Varsha noted that US corporate culture expects employees to be more self-reliant, figuring things out on their own, unlike in India where there's often more handholding. "In India, there's often more handholding, more people checking in." She also mentioned feeling isolated initially due to the separation of work and personal life, with small talk rarely evolving into deep discussions. Pointing out a positive aspect, Varsha highlighted that there's work-life balance in the US, where people "log off" and focus on personal life, maintaining healthy boundaries. "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," she wrote in the post. The post received a mixed response, with one user saying, "Maybe it is different for your team! I have teammates from different countries and we eat together almost every day!" "I agree with everything you've put in the caption. It was such a a shock to me initially. I miss the chai pe charcha," another user agreed to her situation. "Slowly and surely you will get used to it and even start liking it! I did when I used to work in the US," a third user wrote.
India Today
13-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Indian woman shares 5 things that surprised her about US office culture in viral video
An Indian professional working in New York listed five unexpected aspects of American work culture that took her by surprise. Her honest take, documented in the caption of a video post, has since gone a product marketing lead at Amazon, moved from India to the United States after spending seven years in the same company back home. Although her role remained unchanged, adapting to a different work environment in the US wasn't as smooth as she 7 years of working in India, I moved to the US with the same company, but the shift hit me harder than I expected,' she said in the caption of the video she shared on Instagram. In the video caption, Varsha opened up about the cultural differences between Indian and American offices and listed five things that surprised her the most.'Same job role, new country, but feels like a whole new world,' she solitude. 'Lunches are mostly solo. People eat at their desks or take a walk, social lunch breaks aren't really a thing,' she came the silence. Offices in the US, according to Varsha, are much quieter. 'No chai pe charcha. No stopping by someone's desk to vent or laugh. Coffee chats have to be scheduled—often weeks ahead,' she said, hinting at the formal also stressed how employees are expected to be far more self-reliant. 'In India, there's often more handholding, more people checking in. Here, you're expected to figure things out on your own,' she fourth point she raised was about emotional isolation. She said small talk exists, but deeper bonds are rare. 'People tend to keep work and life separate, which can feel isolating at first.'However, she ended her post on a positive note. 'Boundaries are beautifully respected. When people log off, they really log off,' she wrote, appreciating the work-life balance her new workplace also offered a word of reassurance to those navigating similar experiences. '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.'Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Varsha | New York City (@newgirl_in_newyorkcity)Social media users found her post relatable. 'I agree with everything you've put in the caption. It was such a shock to me initially. I miss the chai pe charcha,' a user user added, 'Maybe it's different for your team! I have teammates from different countries and we eat together almost every day!'A section of the internet shared advice and encouragement. 'Def fight for your lunch breaks! Go meet up with outside friends for lunch if you have time,' one user said.'Slowly and surely, you will get used to it and even start liking it! I did when I used to work in the US,' another user the comments here:advertisementFrom solo lunches to structured coffee chats, Varsha's post summed up the unspoken realities of corporate life abroad, earning her a virtual nod of agreement from many who've felt the same shift.- Ends
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
'No handholding, no chai pe charcha': India techie who shifted to NYC lists 5 work culture differences between India and US
An Indian professional, Varsha, who transitioned to working in New York City , recently shared her personal experiences about adapting to corporate life in the United States. Currently serving as a product marketing lead at a prominent e-commerce firm, she detailed her journey through an Instagram Reel, where she opened up about the unexpected challenges she faced despite retaining the same job title. Varsha had spent seven years in the Indian corporate ecosystem before relocating to the United States with her current employer. Although she anticipated a smooth transition, the cultural shift turned out to be more intense than she had imagined. Despite holding the same role, operating in a different country brought with it a wave of unfamiliar social and professional dynamics that took time to adjust to. Solo Mealtimes and Less Socializing One of the initial surprises she encountered was how lunch culture differed dramatically. Unlike in India, where team lunches and group breaks are routine, she noticed that most professionals in the U.S. tend to have lunch alone—either at their desks or while taking a walk. Informal group breaks simply weren't part of the norm. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Um par de sapatos indispensável para as mulheres. Compre já Undo Formality and Silence Replace Chatter Another major shift Varsha observed was the formal nature of workplace communication. Gone were the impromptu 'chai breaks' and spontaneous desk visits for casual chats. Conversations with colleagues now needed to be pre-scheduled, often several weeks in advance. The office atmosphere felt quieter and more reserved. Independence Is a Must She also pointed out that the U.S. corporate environment demands greater independence. In India, managers and peers are often more hands-on, regularly checking in and offering guidance. In contrast, American workplaces typically expect employees to navigate problems and tasks on their own. "You have to be way more self-reliant. In India, there's often more handholding, more people checking in. Here, you're expected to figure things out on your own.." she wrote. Surface-Level Conversations, Limited Bonds While small talk is common, Varsha found that forming meaningful relationships in the workplace was rare. There is a clear distinction between personal and professional spheres, which can make it harder to build close connections in the beginning. Work-Life Boundaries Are Strongly Maintained Despite these challenges, she appreciated the respect for personal time in the U.S. Once the workday ends, most employees truly disconnect, allowing for better work-life balance. According to her LinkedIn profile, Varsha graduated from BITS Mesra. She acknowledged that adjusting emotionally to a new work culture abroad is tough—but reassured others in similar situations that the process does get smoother, gradually, one quiet lunch and pre-scheduled coffee meeting at a time.
Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Indian woman reveals 5 things that surprised her about US corporate life: ‘When people log off…'
An Indian woman working in New York City has revealed five things that surprised her about US corporate life. Varsha, a product marketing lead at Amazon, shared an Instagram Reel about the culture shocks she experienced in the United States. An Indian woman opens up about corporate life in the US (Representational image) Varsha said that she moved to the United States after seven years of working in India. The move was more difficult than she had anticipated. 'Same job role, new country but feels like a whole new world. After 7 years of working in India, I moved to the US with the same company —but the shift hit me harder than I expected,' she wrote on Instagram. 5 culture shocks in corporate US The Amazon employee opened up about five things that surprised her about work life in the United States. For Varsha, one of the most surprising things about working in an office in the US was the fact that colleagues did not step out together for lunch. 'Lunches are mostly solo. People eat at their desks or take a walk—social lunch breaks aren't really a thing,' she revealed. Next, she said that offices are more formal and quieter. Unlike India, where colleagues often stop by each other's desks to vent or exchange gossip, the office culture in the US is different. 'No chai pe charcha. No stopping by someone's desk to vent or laugh. Coffee chats have to be scheduled—often weeks ahead,' she wrote. Varsha's third point – ' You have to be way more self-reliant.' She said that in India, employees are not expected to figure things out on their own. 'In India, there's often more handholding, more people checking in. Here, you're expected to figure things out on your own,' the product marketing professional revealed. She also spoke about the isolation that one may experience after moving to the US, where small talk rarely evolves into deep discussions. 'People tend to keep work and life separate—which can feel isolating at first,' Varsha said. Finally, she spoke about one positive aspect of American corporate culture. She said in the US, work-life balance is respected. When people log out, they don't focus on work at all. 'Boundaries are beautifully respected. When people log off, they really log off,' she wrote.
