An LFC fan who travelled from India to study in Liverpool has said he already feels "at home" in his new city.
Manthan Admane, 22, travelled from Mumbai to Manchester in September, after securing a place at the University of Liverpool to undertake a Masters degree in D ata Science and Artificial Intelligence. Despite receiving offers from universities all over the country, Manthan chose Liverpool because of the city's reputation as a "very friendly place".
And the 22-year-old first got a taste of the trademark Scouse hospitality when he found his train had been cancelled upon arriving in Manchester. Manthan said he " started to panic" before he bumped into Jimmy, from Liverpool, who travelled with him to Lime Street and made sure he arrived safely in his new home.
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Manthan told the ECHO : “When I got to Manchester, I found out my train was cancelled. I was asking people for help and I found Mr Jimmy and his wife who were really open and helped me so much. I come from a place where I never moved out of my house and I am almost 8,000km from home so when my train was cancelled I got panicked but Mr Jimmy was such a gentleman and even helped me with my luggage.
"When I reached Lime Street, they even booked a cab for me. I really felt like a family member and I’m really proud that Liverpool has such a nice culture and so many kind people.”
Manthan's passion for football was also a deciding factor in him making the switch to Liverpool, and the student said he is "really happy" to be close to his beloved football team. He said: "I had heard over the internet that scousers are very kind people and that Liverpool has a really vibrant nightlife.
"Also, the main people to choose Liverpool was LFC. The day I came to Liverpool, I really felt that you’ll never walk alone. The day I met Mr Jimmy I realised that no one would end up alone in Liverpool.”
After their encounter, Jimmy and Manthan swapped numbers and have vowed to stay in touch as the 22-year-old adjusts to his new life thousands of miles away from home. He said: “Everything is quite okay here. Mr Jimmy even gave me his WhatsApp and phone number to call him if I am ever in trouble.
"It is really nice to have someone who cares for me here. People in Liverpool are really nice and my course is going well. The support I’m getting for the university is fantastic."
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