As I long for familiarity…

Photo Courtesy: Irina via Unsplash

Time flies by, and you learn that you have no control over certain things that happen to you. Moving to a new country is a life-changing experience. It is filled with excitement, no doubt, but it also brings along a lot of uncertainty. As days and months passed by, I slowly started calling this new city – home, but I also found myself longing for the familiar feelings of MY home. Unlike my other stories, this will be a very short read. This is me diving into the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with moving to a new country.

Stepping into a foreign land is quite overwhelming. Everything around you is new. New sights, new smells, new experiences. Amidst all this, there will be that one thing that may trigger a longing for the comforts of your home. I yearned for my amma’s food; I missed laughing with my girlfriends; I longed for something familiar. But this is change, right? It is scary, but I realized that it is okay to miss those familiar feelings while I embrace the unknown. I realized that adapting to a new life isn’t a piece of cake. We’ve all been there at some point in our lives. I’ve left home at different points in my life. I know this feeling, but every time it hits harder than you think it will.

As time goes on, you’ll be surprised at how your perspective starts to change. You will still miss home and all those familiar things, but gradually those threads of hope start weaving together with the beautiful experiences of your new life. And that is exactly what is happening to me now. I learned to find familiarity in unfamiliar experiences; I met fellow expats, heard their stories, and that made a world of difference. Some stories and some experiences give you valuable insights and make this journey a tad bit easier. I began to see the beauty of my new home and understood that these little moments would one day become precious gems in this chapter of my life. I’m witnessing my little boy grow every day; I’m part of his memories in this new land. Many years later, I hope I can be proud of the little boy I raised while fighting with myself to cope with change.

Photo Courtesy: Dan Meyers via Unspalsh

To my surprise, I’ve started to come to terms with this new life (ask me this during the winter, and I’m sure I’ll have a different story to tell). I’m taking one step at a time. I still breakdown, I still hide myself in the dark some days, but I’ve also started to embrace this change, hoping to come out of it more resilient and stronger.

I know I’m not alone in this journey. If you are going through something similar, take time to reflect. This is a unique opportunity for growth and self-discovery. However difficult it is, this exciting adventure will make you a better version of yourself. Treasure the memories of home, but learn to cherish the moments of your life in your new home. You’ve got this!