Indian Student In US Shares Emotional Side Of Living Alone: ‘Some Days, It Hits Harder Than You Expect’

An Indian student studying in the United States has opened up about the reality of living alone abroad at a young age. In a video shared on Instagram, the 19-year-old spoke about the emotional side of moving away from home, saying life overseas is not always as exciting as it appears online.

The student, identified as Kanav, explained that while many people dream of studying abroad, very few talk about the daily struggles that come with it. From managing expenses to missing family celebrations, he said the experience can feel overwhelming at times.

Student Talks About Life Abroad

In the video, Kanav introduced himself and shared what his life currently looks like in the US. “Hi, I’m 19, living alone in the United States. I came from India for college, and honestly, living alone isn’t

as glamorous as it looks. No one really tells you about these parts,” he said.

He then spoke about the responsibilities he now handles on his own. According to him, simple things like arranging food, managing money, understanding taxes and using credit cards become part of everyday life very quickly.

Kanav also mentioned how different college life feels compared to school in India. He said the classes, people and overall environment are completely different and take time to adjust to. The emotional side of living far from family was another part he focused on.

Talking about festivals, he explained how difficult it feels to watch celebrations happening back home while being alone in another country. “And then there are days like festivals. Back home, everyone’s together, celebrating, laughing, and making memories. And you’re just there, on a video call, watching it all happen from thousands of miles away,” he said.

“Some days it hits harder than you expect,” he added. Still, Kanav said these experiences also help people grow stronger and more independent over time.

“But maybe that’s the point, because moments like these, they build you. They make you mentally stronger. They teach you how to stand on your own,” he said. The video was shared with the caption, “Building a life.”

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Many Users Related To His Experience

The clip received reactions from many people online, especially students and professionals who have also lived away from home. Several users said Kanav described feelings they had personally experienced while studying or working abroad.

A user wrote, “This is so real, nobody talks about how lonely festivals feel abroad.” Another person commented, “You are learning life much earlier than many people do.”

“Living alone teaches you things no classroom ever can,” a user said. Another added, “This made me emotional because I have been through the same.”

Some users also appreciated that he spoke honestly about the difficult side of studying overseas instead of only focusing on the glamorous image often shown on social media.

“People only see the foreign country part, not the struggle behind it,” a comment read. Another user wrote, “At 19, managing all this alone takes courage.”