Indian student in US shares heartbreaking reality of living alone: ‘Some days, it hits harder than you expect'

A viral video is making waves for telling the truth about what it’s actually like to study abroad. For so many young Indians, heading to the US seems like the ultimate dream: world-class education, new horizons, freedom, adventure. If you scroll through social media, you’ll see students showing off campus life, road trips, cool coffee shops… Just pure excitement.However, Kanav, a 19-year-old from India, has posted a video that’s a lot more real. He’s not complaining, he’s just opening up about the tougher side of living far from home.In his video, Kanav looks straight at the camera and says, “Living alone isn’t as glamorous as it looks.” That’s it — it’s honest, simple, and it hits you. He’s talking about loneliness, the grind of daily responsibilities, and feeling the weight of being on your own.Kanav admits that while many people chase the dream of studying abroad, nobody really talks about how hard it can get. From managing money, figuring out taxes, and juggling food, to missing out on family celebrations, sometimes it all feels like too much. He introduces himself: “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.”It’s not just an emotional rant or outburst — he’s actually got a point. When one moves away from home, to a different country, a different continent, all of a sudden, they become in charge of everything: from meals to bills to making sense of credit cards. College in the US isn’t anything like school back home; the classes are different, the people aren’t the same, and it takes time to adjust. There’s a lot to figure out, and it’s emotionally tough being away from family.In Kanav’s words, “No one really tells you about these parts. Figuring out food, managing money, credit cards, taxes, classes that feel nothing like when you're in high school. Different culture, different people, and different absolutely everything.”And then, “And then there are days like festivals.”Kanav mentions festivals are the hardest part of living away from home, and all alone. Watching your family celebrate over a video call while you’re thousands of miles away hurts. 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 says, adding, “Some days it hits harder than you expect."But he doesn’t sugarcoat it or wallow. He just puts it out there: it’s tough, but these moments help you grow. “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 says. He captioned the video, “Building a life.” He finally acknowledges, “It's not easy, but I know I didn't come this far for easy.”Turns out, more people on the internet than you’d expect get this paradox of living away and on your own. The video struck a nerve with students and professionals who’ve lived away from home.One user commented, “This is so real, nobody talks about how lonely festivals feel abroad.” Another said, “You are learning life much earlier than many people do.” Someone else wrote, “Living alone teaches you things no classroom ever can.” People really appreciated him being honest about the struggles, not just showing off.There was a comment that nailed it: “People only see the foreign country part, not the struggle behind it.” Another user added, “At 19, managing all this alone takes courage.”The thing that really stands out is the silence of living miles away from home, something Kanav never actually says. You leave behind the noise at home: family, meals, routines. Suddenly, everything’s quiet. Sometimes it’s nice, but sometimes it feels way too heavy. Psychologists will tell you loneliness isn’t just about being alone; it’s about missing real, meaningful connections. For students abroad, it sneaks up on you: during lunch, at night, or in the middle of class.That’s what Kanav captured. Not endless sadness — just those moments that really hit, when you least expect them.