Foreign To Familiar-My Second Home Journey

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

I walk in through the airport holding my uncle’s hand fidgeting my fingers. The nervousness could be displayed on my face. I see my parents standing at the rail waiting for me. In haste I ran to hug them and without wasting any second they reciprocated my action. As I walked through the exit of Kuwait International Airport, the hot, humid wind hit my skin. As soon as we reached the parking lot, I slowly took a seat in the car. Suddenly, slow faint sobs escaped my mouth. My parents bombarded me with questions for the reason of my sudden mood off. I certainly knew I couldn’t tell them – That I wanted to go back to India, That I didn’t want to leave all my cousins behind, That I didn’t like the atmosphere here, That I didn’t want to join a new school – After all the trouble they took to bring me to Kuwait.

So I politely responded that I was fine. Thoughts like ‘Will I ever fit in?’, “Will I be able to make new friends?’ , sprang to my mind . And before I knew it, I was walking down to my new house. At first, I had a great time adjusting to my new house but soon I loved it and found it as my comfort zone. One year flew by, and it was already time to join school. And that’s when Carmel school came like a blessing in to my life. I still remember, how nervous I was. Looking back, it gives me quite a good laugh. Soon I learned to make new friends, socialize with teachers, sisters etc. That’s when it finally hit me; I finally found my true home, my comforting zone – KUWAIT.

From being a nervous three-year-old, I would say Kuwait changed me to be the 13-year-old I am today. One of the most important things Kuwait taught me is to be independent. As I enter my last year in middle school, I realize time is ticking. The reality that I would have to leave Kuwait after five years dawned on me. And the truth always leaves tears of sadness down my face.

The unchallenged truth is that I would have to leave all my cherished childhood memories behind and start a whole new chapter makes me go back to the nervous three-year-old I once was. Although by nationality, India is my true home, Kuwait will always be my second home. A place filled with my laughter of joy, tears of sadness, shouts of anger, and finally the most amazing memories cherished within in me.

And eventually, when it will be the day to leave Kuwait not knowing whether I will ever return or not, I am certain that there would be – A smile of pain across my face.

Diya Pramod Thomas, 7-D, Carmel School