An Indian man triggered a conversation online after sharing the harsh reality of working in Europe, pushing back against the common belief that moving abroad guarantees an easier life and better money.
In a Reddit post on r/delhi titled “Reality of working in Europe as an Indian immigrant, not what people think,” the man explained how his expectations changed after actually living and working there.
“Everyone back home thinks going abroad = easy money, better life. I used to think the same,” he wrote.
Describing his experience, he said the work is far from easy. Having worked as a truck driver and now in a warehouse, he shared that the job involves constant physical labour. “You can’t even sit for 2 minutes during work hours every day, it feels like you’re just pushing your body to the limit,” he wrote, adding that it had already started affecting his health.
Beyond the physical strain, he highlighted the emotional and social challenges of living abroad. Unlike in India, where support systems and familiarity made things more manageable, he said, life there could feel isolating. “Here? Almost impossible. You’re on your own,” he observed.
He also pointed out the added difficulty of adapting to a new language and environment, saying it takes years to truly adjust. “Everything feels 10x harder,” he wrote.
While he clarified that he isn’t discouraging people from moving abroad, he urged others not to go with unrealistic expectations. “Please don’t come with the illusion that it’s easy money or a dream life. There’s a heavy price you pay physically and mentally,” he added.
Take a look at the post here:
The post received a wave of responses from others who either related deeply to the experience or offered a more sobering perspective on life abroad, turning the comments section into a candid discussion about the realities of migration.
Several users echoed the man’s claims, admitting that the idea of “easy money” overseas often collapsed once faced with the physical and mental demands of such jobs.
One commenter pointed out how roles like truck driving were often glamorised back home, only for people to realise the intensity of the work once they stepped into it, adding that outsiders were sometimes given disproportionately harder tasks.
Others shifted the focus to the emotional toll, sharing their own struggles with isolation and discrimination. One user wrote about dealing with racism despite trying to stay resilient, adding that the perception of Indians abroad could often feel “dehumanising,” a stark contrast to the expectations many carry before leaving the country.
There were also voices offering blunt, practical takes. Some argued that moving abroad was not a guaranteed solution to financial struggles, stressing that without specialised skills, the challenges remained just as tough, if not tougher, than in India. For many, the takeaway was clear: relocating might change the environment, but it doesn’t automatically change one’s circumstances.
At the same time, a few commenters expressed empathy and solidarity, acknowledging how difficult it could be to navigate a completely new system without support.
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