Indian woman reveals the biggest life lesson she learnt after 4 years in Germany
Himani Sharma said living in Germany changed how she sees evenings, work and time with people. As she prepares to move to Dubai, she said the lesson of being fully present will stay with her.
What if the most valuable thing a country could offer wasn't better infrastructure or higher salaries, but permission to slow down? That's the question Indian expat Himani Sharma found herself asking after spending four years in Germany.
Sharma, who has spent the last four years in Germany, recently shared on Instagram how living in Europe transformed her understanding of work-life balance and the value of being present in the moment.
In a video that has resonated with many online, Sharma spoke about one aspect of European life she would miss the most if she ever moved back to India.
“One thing I will really miss if I ever go back to India is how life slows down in Europe after 6 p.m. Like shops are shut, work is over, and people actually go back to living their life,” she said.
Sharma admitted that adjusting to this culture initially came as a surprise.
“And honestly, this was such a culture shock for me in the beginning because back in India, even when we meet friends, we are still mentally at work, checking phones, replying to messages, eating quickly, talking a little, and then leaving,” she explained.
Over time, however, she began to appreciate the slower pace of evenings in Europe. Rather than rushing from one task to another, she noticed people embracing unhurried conversations and genuine connection.
“But in Europe, people sit in cafes for hours, sipping one drink slowly, having deep conversations, enjoying the weather, ordering a little food, and simply spending time with each other. Nobody is constantly on their phone,” she said.
According to Sharma, this shift taught her something she hadn't expected when she first moved abroad.
See the post:
“I feel like living in Europe taught me how to be fully present in the moment. And honestly, I really wish we had more of this culture back in my home country too,” she added.
Reflecting on the lesson in her caption, Sharma wrote, “After living in Germany for 4 years, one of the biggest cultural shifts for me was seeing how people genuinely disconnect from work and reconnect with life.”
As she prepares to begin a new chapter in Dubai, Sharma says this is one European habit she hopes to carry with her: not working less, but living more intentionally.
What if the most valuable thing a country could offer wasn't better infrastructure or higher salaries, but permission to slow down? That's the question Indian expat Himani Sharma found herself asking after spending four years in Germany.
Sharma, who has spent the last four years in Germany, recently shared on Instagram how living in Europe transformed her understanding of work-life balance and the value of being present in the moment.
In a video that has resonated with many online, Sharma spoke about one aspect of European life she would miss the most if she ever moved back to India.
“One thing I will really miss if I ever go back to India is how life slows down in Europe after 6 p.m. Like shops are shut, work is over, and people actually go back to living their life,” she said.
Sharma admitted that adjusting to this culture initially came as a surprise.
“And honestly, this was such a culture shock for me in the beginning because back in India, even when we meet friends, we are still mentally at work, checking phones, replying to messages, eating quickly, talking a little, and then leaving,” she explained.
Over time, however, she began to appreciate the slower pace of evenings in Europe. Rather than rushing from one task to another, she noticed people embracing unhurried conversations and genuine connection.
“But in Europe, people sit in cafes for hours, sipping one drink slowly, having deep conversations, enjoying the weather, ordering a little food, and simply spending time with each other. Nobody is constantly on their phone,” she said.
According to Sharma, this shift taught her something she hadn't expected when she first moved abroad.
See the post:
“I feel like living in Europe taught me how to be fully present in the moment. And honestly, I really wish we had more of this culture back in my home country too,” she added.
Reflecting on the lesson in her caption, Sharma wrote, “After living in Germany for 4 years, one of the biggest cultural shifts for me was seeing how people genuinely disconnect from work and reconnect with life.”
As she prepares to begin a new chapter in Dubai, Sharma says this is one European habit she hopes to carry with her: not working less, but living more intentionally.
