freedom to make my own decision, that I am the only one who is responsible for
the choices I make & the consequences I face, that I am the only one who can lift myself up when I fall
or cheer myself up when I cry. After a while I knew that I am not alone, everyone around me has some battles that are fighting and major realization sinks in that it is a big
deal when anyone moves out.
anxious uneasy emotions I had to deal with. I remember the number of arguments
and discussions I had with my parents when I first told them about my decision.
I have never lived away from my family or from my house so obviously it was
hard for my parents more than me to accept this. They did not discourage my
need for education, they were just unwilling to let me go so far away. It was
their hidden love which was trying to hold me back. I remember giving reasons
to everyone who was trying to intimidate me – at workplace, at the bank, to my
friends and my relatives.
independence, so I never found it difficult to make new friends, or eat alone,
or watch movies alone. Here now, there
are times when I try new things, go on walks alone, meet new people and learn
about diverse cultures. After slogging in a corporate world for 3 years I
wanted to learn more, grow more, I wanted to get out of my monotonous routine
life. But hey you know what the irony is, you end up in a routine life here
also.
my meals, my laundry days, my class days, my fun days. Before my parents used
to take care of half of these things for me. Now I know If I do not have
groceries I cannot eat. I became more productive, I know how to keep myself busy.
I read more books & watch more documentaries. My laptop is my world, I
spend a lot of time online knowing that it’s the only way my Indian friends and
family can reach me.
I procrastinate, I do not feel like talking to anyone, I just want to cry. But
then I realize that it was my decision, I convinced my family to help me become
stronger and support me for this. It was a challenge i accepted and decided to go ahead with.
people who make my stay here pleasant, includes my professors, my supervisors,
my roommates and my friends from some diverse backgrounds.
not regret my decision. I love every bit of experience I get every day. I value
the present moments I am in. I value my relationships back home a lot, as a
sister, as a daughter and as a friend and now I am more comfortable and confident for any newer experiences.
your comfort zone then remember, you just leave home with your feet but never
with your heart. And even if there is a little chance that you can move out of
your comfort zone for something new then do it, go ahead and grab that
opportunity because there are million others dreaming of this life who do not
have a slight chance.


I’d love to hear what stayed with you. Leave a comment below—I read all.