Indian woman shares 5 things that surprised her about US office culture in viral video

Authors: India Today Trending Desk

Publisher:

India Today

Published: 7/13/2025

Language:English

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Tom

Good morning norristong_x, I'm Tom, and this is Goose Pod for you. Today is Wednesday, July 16th.

Ema

And I'm Ema. Today, we're diving into a viral video by an Indian woman sharing five things that surprised her about US office culture.

Tom

Let's get started. Varsha, a product marketing lead, moved from India to the New York office of the same company and found the cultural shift immense. Her observations in an Instagram video really struck a chord with people globally.

Ema

They really did! She pointed out five things: lunches are mostly solo, offices are surprisingly quiet without those casual 'chai' chats, you're expected to be much more self-reliant, and it can feel emotionally isolating. But she did love one thing.

Tom

Right, the work-life boundaries. This contrast is deeply rooted in cultural differences. Traditional Indian office culture, for instance, is highly relational. It’s built on the concept of 'relationship before business,' where personal connections and trust are foundational. There’s a defined hierarchy and respect for seniority.

Ema

Exactly! Think of it like a family. That 'handholding' Varsha mentioned isn't about a lack of skill; it's part of a more paternalistic, supportive management style. The 'chai pe charcha,' or tea chats, are where bonds are formed and information is shared informally. It's a huge part of the social fabric.

Tom

In contrast, American corporate culture has historically developed around principles of individualism and efficiency. The relationship is primarily transactional, centered on the work itself. This leads to more formal, scheduled interactions and a clear separation between professional and personal lives.

Ema

So, when Varsha misses the spontaneous chats, she's missing that 'family' dynamic. In the US, the team might be more like a professional sports team—everyone has a specific role, they work together to win, but they have separate private lives. It’s just a different playbook.

Tom

This difference in playbook creates conflict. The expectation of self-reliance in the US can feel like a lack of support for someone accustomed to a more hands-on, collaborative environment. The quietness isn't just an absence of noise; it's an absence of a certain type of social connection.

Ema

And the communication styles can really clash! American culture often prioritizes directness—let's call it 'honesty over harmony.' Feedback is straightforward. But in India, communication is often more indirect and nuanced to maintain group harmony, which can be misinterpreted by Americans as being vague.

Tom

That’s a critical point. An American manager might give blunt feedback thinking they're being clear and efficient, but an Indian employee might perceive it as rude. Conversely, an Indian employee might try to soften a message, which their American counterpart could see as evasive.

Ema

It's a classic case of cultural wires getting crossed! The social media reaction to Varsha's video showed this isn't a universal rule, of course. Some people chimed in saying their US teams are very social, but the vast majority found her experience incredibly relatable.

Tom

The immediate impact is often psychological. Professionals transitioning can experience significant emotional isolation. This is especially true for those on work visas, who may feel more pressure to adapt without complaint due to their vulnerable status. It's a considerable professional challenge.

Ema

Absolutely. But on the flip side, as Varsha pointed out, there's a huge positive impact: work-life balance. She said boundaries are 'beautifully respected.' When you log off, you *really* log off. That can be incredibly refreshing and healthy compared to a culture where work can bleed into personal time.

Tom

Looking forward, the key is adaptation and understanding. As global mobility increases, companies are recognizing the need for cross-cultural training to bridge these gaps. It helps to set expectations and reduce the initial shock for employees relocating to a new country.

Ema

And for individuals, it's about finding a rhythm, just as Varsha advised. It takes time to build a new professional life, one solo lunch or scheduled coffee chat at a time. It's about blending the best of both worlds.

Tom

That's the end of today's discussion. The move to a new office culture can be both isolating and liberating. Thank you for listening to Goose Pod.

Ema

See you tomorrow, norristong_x!

## Summary of News: Indian Woman Shares 5 Surprising Aspects of US Office Culture in Viral Video **News Title:** Indian woman shares 5 things that surprised her about US office culture in viral video **Report Provider/Author:** India Today Trending Desk **Date Published:** July 13, 2025 This news report details the experience of Varsha, an Indian professional working as a product marketing lead at Amazon in New York. After seven years of working for the same company in India, Varsha moved to the US and found the American work culture to be significantly different from what she was accustomed to. Her observations, shared in a viral video on Instagram, highlight five unexpected aspects of this cultural shift. ### Key Findings and Observations: Varsha's viral Instagram post outlines five key differences she encountered in the American work culture compared to her experience in India: 1. **Lunchtime Solitude:** Unlike the social lunch breaks common in India, Varsha notes that lunches in the US are often solitary. Employees tend to eat at their desks or take walks alone, with "social lunch breaks aren’t really a thing." 2. **Office Silence and Formality:** Varsha describes American offices as much quieter, lacking the informal "chai pe charcha" (tea discussions) and spontaneous desk-side conversations for venting or laughing. Even casual coffee chats require scheduling, often weeks in advance, indicating a more formal atmosphere. 3. **Increased Self-Reliance:** In the US, employees are expected to be more independent and figure things out on their own. This contrasts with the Indian work environment, where Varsha experienced more "handholding" and frequent check-ins from colleagues. 4. **Emotional Isolation:** While small talk is present, Varsha observes that deeper personal bonds are less common in American workplaces. The tendency for people to keep work and personal life separate can initially feel isolating. 5. **Respected Boundaries and Work-Life Balance:** On a positive note, Varsha highlights the strong respect for boundaries, particularly regarding work hours. When employees log off, they genuinely disconnect, which she appreciates as it offers a better work-life balance. ### Social Media Reaction and Advice: Varsha's post resonated with many social media users who found her observations relatable. Comments expressed agreement with her points, with some users reminiscing about the "chai pe charcha" culture. Others shared their own experiences, with one user noting that team dynamics can vary, as their international team eats together daily. The report also includes advice and encouragement from other users, such as actively seeking out lunch breaks and connecting with friends outside of work. Some users shared that they eventually grew accustomed to and even appreciated the American work culture after their initial adjustment period. ### Conclusion: Varsha's experience underscores the significant cultural adjustments that can occur when transitioning to a new work environment abroad. Her candid sharing of these "unspoken realities of corporate life" has garnered widespread agreement, emphasizing the emotional and practical shifts involved in working in a different country. While the initial adjustment can be challenging, her message of finding one's rhythm and the eventual appreciation for work-life balance offers a hopeful perspective for others navigating similar transitions.

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In a now-viral video shared on Instagram, an Indian woman working in New York listed five unexpected aspects of American work culture that took her by surprise. This is a still taken from a video posted by Varsha on Instagram.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 viral.Varsha, 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 expected.

“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 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 said.Lunchtime solitude. “Lunches are mostly solo. People eat at their desks or take a walk, social lunch breaks aren’t really a thing,” she said.Next 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 atmosphere.She 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 said.

The 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 offers.

She 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: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 wrote.Another 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 wrote.See the comments here:From 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.

- EndsPublished By: Akshita SinghPublished On: Jul 13, 2025