Hyderabad Woman Returns From US After 5 Years, Says ‘I’m Not Exactly The Same Person’

Returning home after years abroad can feel familiar at first, but settling back into everyday life may not be as easy as expected. A Hyderabad woman who spent five years in the US has shared how moving back made her notice several changes she had not expected.

Ishika Agarwal spoke about her experience of dealing with what she called “reverse culture shock”. From her health and social plans to missing simple walks and relying on family again, she said returning home made her realise that she had changed too.

She Realised Home Did Not Feel Exactly The Same

“You know what nobody tells you about moving back home after living abroad for five years? I will tell you. You think you’re coming back home to the same life, and then you realize you’ve changed

way more than you thought,” Agarwal said.

One of the first things she noticed was that she was falling sick more often than expected. “I’ve been sick so much since I came back. I genuinely didn’t expect that. I’m like, bro, I lived here for 17 years. Why are my lungs acting like they’ve never seen India before?”

Her social life also felt different. She said meeting friends used to be much easier during college, but now getting everyone together often needs careful planning. “Meeting a friend isn’t even meeting someone anymore. It’s an outing.”

Even her clothes became a reminder of how much her life had changed. After living in a different climate for five years, much of her old wardrobe no longer seemed useful.

“I have five years of clothes from a completely different climate sitting in my closet right now. And they’re literally saying to my face, like, are we ever going back?”

She Misses Being Able To Take Walks Without A Plan

One of the things Agarwal misses most about living in the US is the freedom to simply step outside and walk, especially at night. “There were nights I would just go for a walk, no plan, just walk around with my headphones on, clear my head, and come back. And I didn’t realize how much I needed that until I came back,” she said.

After five years of managing life on her own, she also found herself relying on her mother again for small things. “So apparently, I can be independent, I just don’t have to be.”

Agarwal said the experience had made her realise that while many things around her remained familiar, she was no longer exactly the same person who had left India five years earlier. “Everything is familiar. The city, the food, my home, my people. But somehow, I’m not exactly the same person who left five years ago. And maybe that’s what coming back home actually looks like.”

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A post shared by Ishika Agarwal (@ishiikaagarwaal)

Internet Users Relate To Her Reverse Culture Shock

Sharing her experience, Agarwal wrote, “5 years in the US, and moving back home comes with its own kind of reverse culture shock. I just didn’t expect it to show up in such random little things. Suddenly your friends need calendar invites, your wardrobe doesn’t make sense, and apparently your immune system has resigned.”

The experience also struck a chord with people who had moved back after spending years abroad. One user wrote, “12 years in the US. The transition is very anxiety-inducing.”

Another commented, “Completely relatable,” while a person said, “Yes, I agree with you.” Someone else simply wrote, “This is true.”