{"id":3178,"date":"2013-08-30T16:22:01","date_gmt":"2013-08-30T16:22:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.manikarthik.com\/news\/?page_id=3178"},"modified":"2024-12-03T05:21:05","modified_gmt":"2024-12-03T05:21:05","slug":"about-me","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/manikarthik.com\/blog\/about-me\/","title":{"rendered":"About Me"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hey there! \ud83d\udc4b I’m Mani Karthik.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just another techie who lived the American Dream. And then chose to wake up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The usual story. Almost.<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Mani<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

2008: Packed two suitcases. Moved to the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typical IT job. Typical Indian area. Typical Indian friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weekend Indian grocery runs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potlucks. Movie nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living in a bubble of desi comfort while chasing the elusive green card.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Mani<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Then something changed.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Maybe it was mom’s daily calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or those midnight cravings for proper street chai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps watching my kid grow up celebrating Halloween over Diwali.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The crazy decision.<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"My<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

2017: I did what many dream of but few dare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Packed up my American life into four suitcases (funny how stuff multiplies).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Said goodbye to my beautiful apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hugged my confused American friends.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Mani<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

And moved back to India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, I chose traffic jams over freeways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chaos over order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family over 401(k).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I haven’t regretted it. (Most days \ud83d\ude05)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Mani<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I help NRIs like you navigate the journey back home. Through this blog and BackToIndia.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also mentor few startups in India with marketing and growth<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Brands<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Mani<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n[su_note note_color=”#f8dffe” text_color=”#000000″ radius=”10″]\n\n\n\n

I’m happy doing what I’m doing and where I am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not having to worry about visa issues, and the ambiguities with my status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not having to deal with identifying myself as a “Temporary Alien”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And being with my folks whenever I want to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s a MasterCard moment. <3<\/p>\n\n\n\n[\/su_note]\n\n\n\n

What about you?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Secretly thinking about returning to India?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you’re:<\/p>\n\n\n\n