Moving away from home can be about much more than changing an address. For Thejaswini Reddy, living in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Dubai became a series of experiences that gradually changed how she viewed independence, everyday life and professional relationships.
Reddy, who grew up in a small village in Andhra Pradesh, moved to Bengaluru with her family when she was 10. Years later, a job took her to Hyderabad, where she experienced living independently. At 31, she moved to Dubai with her husband after leaving her stable job in India.
Looking back, Reddy says each city taught her a different lesson.
She shared her experience on Instagram through @journeyswithvisandtej, explaining how the three places shaped the person she became.
Bengaluru Introduced Her to a Much Bigger World
For Reddy, Bengaluru was the first major change in her surroundings.
She was born in a small village in Andhra Pradesh and studied in a Telugu-medium school. When her family moved to Bengaluru at the age of 10, she suddenly found herself surrounded by people speaking different languages and coming from different cultural backgrounds.
She described the experience as being introduced to a much larger world.
“I did not learn how to be an adult until I moved to a new city and had to do my own laundry,” Reddy said while introducing the story of the three cities that shaped her.
Speaking about Bengaluru, she explained that her childhood world had largely been centred around her village. Moving to the city exposed her to a wider range of languages, cultures and people.
In her words, Bengaluru “showed me the world” when her world had previously been her village.
Hyderabad Became Her Introduction to Independent Living
The second important chapter came when Reddy moved to Hyderabad after getting a job.
Unlike some students, she had not experienced hostel life during college. Moving to another city for work therefore gave her an opportunity to experience a different kind of independence.
Hyderabad became the place where she began managing more of her everyday life herself.
She said it was where she first joined a gym, purchased her own groceries and started doing her own laundry.
These may appear to be ordinary responsibilities, but for someone moving away from a family home for the first time, they can represent a significant transition.
Her experience also highlights how independence is often learned through routine rather than through one dramatic moment.
Buying groceries, maintaining a household and taking care of personal responsibilities gradually become part of learning how to manage life on one’s own.
Dubai Taught Her the Value of Networking
Reddy’s third move took her outside India.
At 31, she left what she described as a stable job in India and moved to Dubai with her husband.
The professional transition was not straightforward.
She said she applied for numerous jobs through a job portal but repeatedly received no response. After struggling to find an opportunity through conventional applications, she eventually found a job through a professional connection she had made years earlier.
That experience changed the way she viewed networking.
“This is where I first understood the power of networking,” she said.
Her experience illustrates an important difference between submitting applications and building professional relationships. While job portals can provide access to opportunities, personal and professional connections can sometimes lead to opportunities that are difficult to find through conventional applications alone.
Three Cities, Three Different Lessons
Reddy summarised the role of the three cities in her life in the caption accompanying her post.
According to her reflection, Bengaluru showed her the world beyond her village, Hyderabad taught her practical independence, and Dubai demonstrated the importance of professional connections.
The three experiences were different, but together they became part of her personal development.
Her story also shows that moving to a new city does not necessarily produce one single kind of change. Different environments can challenge people in different ways.
A childhood move can expand someone’s understanding of cultures and communities. Moving for work can teach practical independence. Relocating internationally can introduce new professional challenges and demonstrate the value of relationships built over time.
Social Media Users Relate to Her Experience
Reddy’s story prompted other users to share their own experiences of moving away from home.
Some commenters said that different cities had similarly influenced their personalities and perspectives.
One user wrote, “Every city teaches you something new.”
Another commented, “It’s amazing how places shape who we become.”
Other responses focused on the experience of leaving home and the importance of networking when building a career.
The reactions suggest that Reddy’s story resonated with people who have also experienced how moving to a new place can change their routines, relationships and outlook.
Sometimes a City Becomes Part of Your Story
Reddy’s journey across Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Dubai is ultimately a story about personal growth through change.
Bengaluru exposed her to cultures and languages beyond the environment of her childhood. Hyderabad gave her the opportunity to handle everyday responsibilities independently. Dubai presented a different professional environment and taught her the importance of maintaining meaningful connections.
None of those lessons necessarily came from a classroom.
Instead, they emerged from ordinary experiences: moving homes, buying groceries, doing laundry, looking for work and meeting people.
That may be the biggest lesson in Reddy’s story. Sometimes the places people live do more than provide a backdrop to their lives. They become experiences that shape how they understand the world, themselves and the people around them.
