US woman struggles with post-India trip blues, turns to Indian snacks for comfort
After returning from India, a US woman said she was dealing with reverse culture shock and turned to an Indian grocery haul for comfort. Her video about missing the country's food, friends and everyday life drew warm responses from viewers.
An American woman who recently returned home after a trip to India said she was struggling with “reverse culture shock”, sharing a video of herself stocking up on Indian snacks from a local grocery store in an attempt to deal with how much she missed the country.
Tabby Phillips, a US-based content creator who had recently visited India, shared the video on Instagram, describing the emotional adjustment of returning home after spending time immersed in a different culture.
Holding a box filled with Indian snacks and grocery items, Phillips explained that coming back to the United States often leaves her feeling out of place.
“Do you know what reverse culture shock is?” she asked in the video. “It's when you've been somewhere different than your own culture, and you've been there for an extended amount of time and come home and your home doesn't really feel like home any more.”
She revealed that the first time she spent six months in India, the transition back was particularly difficult.
“I literally hit depression in one week. Everything was like overstimulating,” she said, adding that she was once again experiencing a milder version of those feelings after returning from her latest visit.
Phillips said she already missed “India, my friends, the smells, the foods, all the things,” prompting her to visit Janta, an Indian grocery store in her hometown, and pick up some of her favourite items.
The rest of the video turned into a cheerful showcase of the products she brought home. She enthusiastically displayed packets of Maggi noodles, Kurkure Masala Munch, Lychee juice, banana chips from Kerala, milk biscuits, frozen dosa, Amul cheese and ready-made parathas.
At one point, she even demonstrated what she called the “correct” Indian way of opening snack packets, jokingly explaining how chips are often eaten directly from the packet after tearing it from the side.
While sampling Kurkure Naughty Tomato, she laughed and described the flavour as being similar to “a Cheeto with ketchup,” admitting that despite sounding unusual, it somehow worked.
She also spoke fondly about Indian fruits, local snacks and regional foods she had discovered during her travels, saying she had become particularly attached to several staples that are now difficult to find outside Indian stores.
By the end of the clip, Phillips summed up her feelings about being caught between two places she loves.
“My heart's ripped out. Half of it's in India. The other half is here,” she said. “When I'm here, I'm missing India. When I'm in India, I'm missing here.”
In the caption, she wrote that she hoped the haul from her local Indian grocery store would help ease the reverse culture shock, adding that she was already missing “India and all of my friends, my travels, the culture, all the things.”
Watch the video here:
The video struck a nerve with viewers, many of whom were touched by her affection for India.
One person joked that someone should “give her an Aadhaar card” because she seemed Indian at heart already. Another suggested that the warmth she experienced in India reflected “the goodness of your heart,” saying people often receive the same kindness they offer others.
Several users also thanked Phillips for sharing positive experiences about India, with one commenter noting that at a time when the country is often criticised online, it was refreshing to see someone speak so fondly about its people, culture and everyday life.
An American woman who recently returned home after a trip to India said she was struggling with “reverse culture shock”, sharing a video of herself stocking up on Indian snacks from a local grocery store in an attempt to deal with how much she missed the country.
Tabby Phillips, a US-based content creator who had recently visited India, shared the video on Instagram, describing the emotional adjustment of returning home after spending time immersed in a different culture.
Holding a box filled with Indian snacks and grocery items, Phillips explained that coming back to the United States often leaves her feeling out of place.
“Do you know what reverse culture shock is?” she asked in the video. “It's when you've been somewhere different than your own culture, and you've been there for an extended amount of time and come home and your home doesn't really feel like home any more.”
She revealed that the first time she spent six months in India, the transition back was particularly difficult.
“I literally hit depression in one week. Everything was like overstimulating,” she said, adding that she was once again experiencing a milder version of those feelings after returning from her latest visit.
Phillips said she already missed “India, my friends, the smells, the foods, all the things,” prompting her to visit Janta, an Indian grocery store in her hometown, and pick up some of her favourite items.
The rest of the video turned into a cheerful showcase of the products she brought home. She enthusiastically displayed packets of Maggi noodles, Kurkure Masala Munch, Lychee juice, banana chips from Kerala, milk biscuits, frozen dosa, Amul cheese and ready-made parathas.
At one point, she even demonstrated what she called the “correct” Indian way of opening snack packets, jokingly explaining how chips are often eaten directly from the packet after tearing it from the side.
While sampling Kurkure Naughty Tomato, she laughed and described the flavour as being similar to “a Cheeto with ketchup,” admitting that despite sounding unusual, it somehow worked.
She also spoke fondly about Indian fruits, local snacks and regional foods she had discovered during her travels, saying she had become particularly attached to several staples that are now difficult to find outside Indian stores.
By the end of the clip, Phillips summed up her feelings about being caught between two places she loves.
“My heart's ripped out. Half of it's in India. The other half is here,” she said. “When I'm here, I'm missing India. When I'm in India, I'm missing here.”
In the caption, she wrote that she hoped the haul from her local Indian grocery store would help ease the reverse culture shock, adding that she was already missing “India and all of my friends, my travels, the culture, all the things.”
Watch the video here:
The video struck a nerve with viewers, many of whom were touched by her affection for India.
One person joked that someone should “give her an Aadhaar card” because she seemed Indian at heart already. Another suggested that the warmth she experienced in India reflected “the goodness of your heart,” saying people often receive the same kindness they offer others.
Several users also thanked Phillips for sharing positive experiences about India, with one commenter noting that at a time when the country is often criticised online, it was refreshing to see someone speak so fondly about its people, culture and everyday life.
