Desi Return Diaries

Why I Live 6 Months in India and 6 Months in the USA After Leaving a Big 5 Career

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Can you really build a life in both India 🇮🇳 and the United States 🇺🇸?
In this episode of Desi Return, I sit down with Arjun, who moved to New York at 17, built a successful career in Big 5 consulting, was on the partnership track, and then made the bold decision to move back to India.
But the story doesn't end there. He later started his own company and, together with his wife, created an unconventional lifestyle—living approximately 6 months in India and 6 months in the US every year.
In this conversation, we discuss:
✅ Why he walked away from a successful US career
✅ The fear of never experiencing India as an adult
✅ Applying to 50 jobs in India and getting zero responses
✅ How networking changed everything
✅ The reality of salary cuts when moving back to India
✅ Starting a company after returning to India
✅ Building a dual life between India and the US
✅ The challenges of taxes, relationships, family, and entrepreneurship across two countries
✅ Advice for NRIs considering moving back to India
If you're an NRI thinking about returning to India, struggling with the India vs US decision, or wondering whether it's possible to have the best of both worlds, this episode is for you.
#NRI #MoveBackToIndia #DesiReturn #LifeInIndia #NRItoIndia #ReturnToIndia #IndianAbroad #NRIlife #IndiaVsUSA #MovingToIndia #OCI #ReverseMigration #NRIParents #LifeAfterMovingBack #HealthcareInIndia #nrilife #backtoindia #nrishaala #backtoroots

After 10 Years in US, We Moved Back to India and Never Went Back to Tech | NRI

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From Silicon Valley to Nashik: Why We Left the US After 10 Years | H1B to Entrepreneur Journey What happens when a couple spends nearly a decade building successful careers in Silicon Valley, only to decide it's time to come back to India?
In this episode of Desi Return, I speak with Chetan and Deepika about their journey from India to the US, life in Silicon Valley, the challenges of being far from family, and the events that ultimately led them to move back to India.
They share:
✅ Why they originally moved to the US
✅ The reality of life and careers in Silicon Valley
✅ How becoming parents changed their priorities
✅ The impact of COVID and being far from family
✅ How they evaluated their finances before returning
✅ Why they chose Nashik instead of Bangalore, Hyderabad, or Pune
✅ Why they decided not to return to tech jobs
✅ Their journey into entrepreneurship and building a business in India
✅ Reverse culture shock after moving back
✅ What life is like for their daughter in India today
✅ Advice for NRIs considering a return to India
 
Whether you're actively planning your move or simply wondering if returning to India is right for your family, this conversation offers practical insights and honest reflections from people who have recently made the transition. #NRI #MoveBackToIndia #DesiReturn #LifeInIndia #NRItoIndia #ReturnToIndia #IndianAbroad #NRIlife #IndiaVsUSA #MovingToIndia #OCI #ReverseMigration #NRIParents #LifeAfterMovingBack #HealthcareInIndia #nrilife #backtoindia #nrishaala #backtoroots 

Retirement Doesn't Have To Be Lonely. Here's Why.

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Retirement doesn't have to mean slowing down. In this episode of Desi Return, we speak with Mr. Amar who spent 35+ years in Delhi before making a life-changing decision: moving into an active senior living community after retirement.
We discuss:
✅ Why they chose not to stay in Delhi after retirement
✅ How active senior living compares to traditional retirement
✅ The social life, activities, and sense of community
✅ Why some NRIs from the US and Canada are choosing a similar lifestyle in India
✅ Healthcare and medical support available onsite
✅ Cost of living and monthly expenses
✅ Life after retirement, independence, and staying active
 
One of the most powerful insights from this conversation is that retirement is not the end of life—it can be the beginning of a completely new chapter filled with friendships, hobbies, purpose, and freedom. Whether you're planning your own retirement, helping your parents think through their options, or considering a return to India after living abroad, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on what life can look like after your working years.

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

After spending nearly 20 years in Germany, Neeraj reflects on a question many NRIs eventually face:
👉 Was moving abroad worth it?
👉 What does success mean after 20 years?
👉 And if he could start all over again, what would he do differently?
In this candid conversation, Neeraj shares his journey from a small town in India to building a life in Germany. We discuss the realities of living abroad, the challenges of belonging to two countries, why some NRIs struggle after moving back to India, and the factors people should carefully consider before making a life-changing decision. Whether you're a student planning to move abroad, an NRI considering a return to India, or someone trying to decide where "home" really is, this episode offers valuable insights and lessons from two decades of experience.
🔗 Connect with Neeraj on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neeraj-kumar-11852719/
 

We Never Planned to Move Back to India... Until This Happened | NRI | 10 Years Abroad | Australia

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After spending 10 years in Germany, Australia, and the United States, Neeta never imagined that she would eventually return to India.
With a successful academic career, a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and opportunities abroad, life seemed to be on track. But a personal family tragedy forced her and her husband to rethink what truly mattered.
In this candid conversation, Neeta shares:
✅ How she moved from IIT Kharagpur to Germany, Australia, and the US
✅ The cultural differences between Germany, Australia, and America
✅ Why she loved Melbourne and still misses it today
✅ The family event that changed her perspective on living abroad
✅ Why her husband returned to India without having a job lined up
✅ The realities of a long-distance marriage across continents
✅ Adjusting to life in India after years of independence abroad
✅ Living with family again after spending over a decade on her own
✅ Managing expectations when moving back to India
✅ Career opportunities in academia and life sciences in India
✅ Loneliness, friendships, and social life abroad versus India
✅ Advice for NRIs considering a move back home
Whether you're living in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, Singapore, Europe, or anywhere else abroad, this conversation offers an honest perspective on the emotional, practical, and personal aspects of returning to India.

Burned Out in Canada, Happier in India? Moved to India After 20+ Years

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After 14 years in corporate Canada, Stefan made a decision that many people dream about — but very few actually take.
Despite a successful career, good income, and a comfortable life abroad, he found himself feeling mentally exhausted, stuck, and unfulfilled. What started as burnout eventually led him and his wife to rethink everything — career, lifestyle, family, and what “success” really means.
In this episode, Stefan shares his honest experience of:
Corporate burnout in Canada
Daily panic attacks and mental health struggles
Why he chose India over Canada
Building a new life in Bangalore
Entrepreneurship and AI opportunities
Challenges after moving to India
Social isolation and rebuilding community
Cost of living and lifestyle differences
OCI and immigration process as a non-Indian spouse
Advice for anyone considering moving abroad or returning to India
 
This is not a “India is perfect” story. It’s an honest conversation about tradeoffs, priorities, and building a life that feels meaningful.

Raised My US Citizen Kids in India ... Here's What Happened? | NRI | OCI

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After spending years in the US, moving back to India in 2004, raising US citizen kids in India, and then returning to America again after 21 years — Amit shares an honest and balanced perspective on life between the two countries.
In this episode, we talk about:
🇮🇳 Raising US citizen / OCI kids in India
🎓 OCI advantages in Indian colleges
💼 India vs US career opportunities in 2026
💰 Financial tradeoffs of staying abroad vs moving back
🛂 H1B stress, green card reality & optionality
👨‍👩‍👧 Parenting decisions and future planning
❤️ Aging parents — the emotional side nobody talks about
 
This is not a “US vs India” debate. It’s a practical and emotional conversation for families trying to make informed decisions about career, children, finances, identity, and long-term happiness.

After 25 Years in US ... Why This NRI Left Everything and Moved Back to India

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After spending 25 years abroad across the UK and the US, she never imagined moving back to India.
Life was good. She built multiple careers, ran businesses, raised her son in America, and enjoyed the opportunities and freedoms that came with living abroad.
But one moment changed everything.
In this conversation, we talk about:
Why she decided to move back to India after decades abroad
Raising a child in India vs the US
Healthcare differences between India and America
Community vs convenience Life in a second-tier Indian city after years in the West
Running businesses in India and abroad
Tax and financial planning when returning to India
The emotional reality of living far away from family
She also shares the surprising things she loved after moving back — from stronger community connections to the ease of daily life in India. If you’re an NRI, OCI, or someone considering returning to India after living abroad, this episode offers a very honest and practical perspective.
#NRI #MoveBackToIndia #DesiReturn #LifeInIndia #NRItoIndia #ReturnToIndia #IndianAbroad #NRIlife #IndiaVsUSA #MovingToIndia #OCI #ReverseMigration #NRIParents #LifeAfterMovingBack #HealthcareInIndia #nrilife #backtoindia #nrishaala #backtoroots 

I Left Germany After 5 Years... Here's Why I Moved Back to India

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Thinking of moving back to India from Germany or Europe?
In this episode of Desi Return, Akhil shares his honest experience of living in Germany for nearly 5 years, building a successful engineering and AI career, getting German PR, and ultimately deciding to move back to Hyderabad, India.
We discuss:
Life in Germany as an Indian
Germany work culture & work-life balance
The reality of loneliness abroad
Challenges with bureaucracy, language & healthcare access
How he planned his return to India
German PR, taxes, pension & documentation process
Transferring money back to India
Career opportunities in India vs Germany
Returning to Hyderabad after years abroad
Emotional and practical aspects of moving back
 
If you're an Indian living in Germany, Europe, Canada, UK, USA, Australia, or anywhere abroad and thinking about returning to India, this conversation will help you make a more informed decision. #backtoindia backtoindia #nri #returntoindia #homecoming #FIRE #retireearly #reversemigration #backtoroots #nrishaala #nrilife #desireturn #germany 

We Didn't Wait Till 60 to Move Back to India After 12 Years in UAE | NRI Reality

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After spending over 12 years in the UAE, Leeba and her family made a decision that most NRIs struggle with… they moved back to India.
In this honest conversation, Leeba shares her journey of moving to the UAE with high expectations, facing the reality of job struggles, navigating life without local experience, and eventually building a successful business from scratch. But despite all that, one question kept coming back:
👉 Is staying abroad really worth it long-term?
This episode goes deep into the real trade-offs NRIs face — career growth, financial stability, kids’ future, aging parents, and the emotional cost of living away from home. I
f you’ve ever asked yourself:
Should we move back to India?
Are we actually saving enough abroad?
When is the right time to return?
What happens to kids if we move?
How do you plan financially before moving back?
This conversation will give you clarity.