‘No chai pe charcha, no team lunches': Amazon employee's viral post on culture shock after moving from India to US

Indian Express

8 hours ago

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.'