'I literally cried before moving', US-born woman shares honest India experience on Reddit

A Reddit post by a 22-year-old US-born woman has gone viral after she shared her honest experience of moving to India-an experience that turned out to be very different from what she had feared growing up.

Raised in the US, the woman said she had only heard negative things about India and was terrified when her mother decided to move back. She revealed that she “literally cried” when she first heard about the decision and initially refused to go, worried by the stereotypes she had grown up with.

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However, after arriving in India, her experience slowly began to change. She found a strong sense of belonging through her extended family. Relatives she had only spoken to over phone calls welcomed her and her sister warmly, frequently checking in on them and making them feel included.

From fear to unexpected belonging

She admitted that adjusting hasn’t been easy. “Culture shock is real,” she wrote, describing sensory overload and personal questions from “aunties,” which she realised came more from curiosity than judgment.

“Culture shock is real, and I'm not pretending everything is perfect. India isn't that perfect; I'm still adjusting, and there have been moments where I felt overwhelmed and out of my comfort zone. But I genuinely don't understand why people hate on India so much without ever being here. My experience has been nothing like what I expected,” she shared.

She also spoke about her family, noting that while her younger sister is still struggling with the move, seeing her mother happy made it worthwhile. “Although my sister is still struggling with the move, which I get—she's younger, and it's a big change. But seeing my mom happy after such a long time honestly made everything feel worth it. She's been through a lot, and I haven't seen her this genuinely happy in years,” she added.

Netizens react

The post sparked wide discussion, with many users sharing similar stories of culture shock, warmth, and slowly building a love-hate relationship with life in India.

One user wrote in the thread,"Quite surprised to know you've matched with the vibe here. Shows how mature you are! As you explore more, you'll eventually develop a love-hate relationship with the country. It's only natural to hate something you love. Cheers to you! Happy exploring and living."

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Another Reddit user shares,"Really happy to hear this. Life in a developed country is better. But, you shouldn't add so many disclaimers and sound apologetic about liking your life back in India. A sixth of the world lives here so, it can't be all that bad."

Another commented,"I was born & raised in the US too, went to India to study MBBS & ended up falling in love with the country & making lifelong friends. Like you said, it was quite the culture shock, but you'd be surprised how much you like something once you open yourself up to new experiences. I was in South India, but I imagine it's similar; most people were warm & welcoming, especially in the villages when we'd work in primary health centers. Hope you enjoy your time in India."

The post ultimately opened up a wider conversation on Reddit about perception vs reality, reminding that India, like any other place, reveals its true character only when experienced firsthand.