When I first landed in Johannesburg, it didn’t feel scary - just… big.

Everything was new. New roads, new faces, new slang. People called it 'Indian food', but it didn’t taste like home. I knew a handful of distant relatives, a few neighbors, but that was about it. People used words like 'just now' and 'shame' in ways I had to Google. And the vibe? Totally different. But exciting in its own way.

Things started to shift when I began working for a TV channel. I got the chance to organise several big events in Johannesburg and Durban, bringing celebrities all the way from Mumbai. Once, we even teamed up with a popular yearly event here to host a fashion show and meet & greet - it was glamorous, high-energy, and a full crowd!

Through that journey, I met so many people - some new to me, some who had been around forever. The more I connected, the more Joburg started feeling like my place.

The best part? People here are open, grounded, and real. I didn’t have to try to fit in. I just showed up as myself, and things fell into place. Over time, I stopped missing 'home' so much… because I was building one here.

Now, years later, it doesn’t feel like I moved countries. More like I added one more to my heart. 🧡

Finding Home, One Day at a Time