5 min readNew DelhiApr 15, 2025 07:30 PM IST
First published on: Apr 15, 2025 at 07:30 PM IST
Sometimes, perceptions are extremely deceiving. That’s something even Sumukhi Suresh has come to believe, considering she always fantasised about the lives of those moving abroad. Her recent solo stay in Australia made her realise that “intercontinental sadness” is real. “If you are someone who has moved to another country, leave alone a city, you have uprooted your entire life, and you moved continents, you are a warrior,” Sumukhi said on Instagram.
Detailing her visit, the Indian comedian shared that she was in Melbourne for close to a fortnight. “But I was around my friends. There were people with me, so I felt great. I felt like, this is wow. I thought living in another country was easy. Why are people making such a big deal? Then I came to Sydney, and I came alone. No friends with me,” said Sumukhi.
While recalling that she “moved away from home very early on”, Sumukhi shared that she was still home “in my country”. “I was in India, and my elder brother lives in the US. And I thought that his life and my life are the same. It’s not. Intercontinental sadness is way more than intercity sadness,” said Sumukhi, 37.
She also shared why it is challenging to make friends in your 30s.
“Also, people say that you can make friends there. You should make local friends. You should not just hang out with Indian people. It’s very difficult. You have to do at least six-month internships and 3 months of probation before you enter the friendship phase with people in another country,” said Sumukhi.
She also mentioned that if you are a teenager or a college student, it’s still very easy to make friends when you are young, “because everyone’s stupid”. “But as an adult, it’s very tough to make friends. Then you have moved to another country and you have to make friends. It makes an introvert out of an extrovert,” she said.
She also apologised for taking those who have moved “for granted”. “In finality, a big sorry to those who have moved away from their home to another country and continent. We take you for granted. We feel like your life is better just because dollar rate is better than Indian currency rate,” said Sumukhi.
Are you also living outside the country? (Photo: Freepik)
While the rant may seem trivial, it’s something that resonated with a lot of online users. Actor and blogger Shenaz Treasury concurred and shared, “Yup! I feel you. :) Solo travel loneliness is real. Plus, I moved to 3 different countries and finally moved back home.”
Another user wrote, “Thank u Miss Sumukhi Today I feel seen”.
Yet another wrote, “Slap a language barrier in between and the intercontinental sadness becomes 100X”.
Another one who moved away from home 11 years ago detailed, “This made my day… it’s been 11 years I have lived in Vancouver. And this is the first time I have felt so seen from a fellow Indian human. I love the honesty in this, the depth and the sarcasm. I have never seen a reel so on point…I truly appreciate you from bottom of my heart for making this reel!”
We reached out to an expert to understand more about such a situation if you or a close one is going through something similar and how to deal with it.
Clinical psychologist Divya Ratan agreed that it is a reality with many. “Intercontinental sadness is true. You move away from your area which is your comfort zone; where you are known and recognised and move to an unknown place where you have to start from scratch. In some cases, learn the local language for you to be seen and accepted and feel welcomed,” said Ratan.
According to her, it does take a toll on the person mentally “as it’s all new and you are learning a lot from scratch”.
What can help?
Divya shared:
*Journaling
*Keeping in touch with friends and family back home
*Understanding that it’s a new beginning and that it will take time can help you embrace changes. “You will slowly make friends too but do try and take efforts,” said Divya.
Sumukhi Suresh on why intercontinental sadness exists (Photo: Sumukhi Suresh/Instagram) 
Are you also living outside the country? (Photo: Freepik)
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