When we talk about living abroad, there is only one word to describe it; TOUGH!
It is hard to adjust and start a new life amid a different culture, new language, unfamiliar rules, and social norms. You will miss the convenience and warmth of home where everybody is there for you; the familiar streets and the comfort of knowing nothing could go wrong. And even if it did, you could simply rely on folks around you to help you.
But, it is difficult if you are an Indian trying to study or settle abroad because there are so many things more than your home and daily roads to miss and long for.
Here are 5 things you will miss about your India -
1. The sounds of life
In India, you hear many different sounds when you step outside your house. It could be the sound of a vegetable seller selling his produce, the occasional trash collector, or the sound of traffic (which would generally include cars and bikes constantly honking at each other for no apparent reason). No matter what part of India you come from, these "sounds" are a constant.
The situation abroad is completely different. Things are much quieter here. The cars don’t honk at each other unless it’s necessary! Can you believe it?!
Even when you talk about the sounds you hear inside a usual Indian house, you hear noises coming from the kitchen where your mother is preparing food or your father watching TV or it might be your neighbour ringing your doorbell to ask for some "dahi" (yoghurt).
It might take time for you to get used to the silence when you move abroad. Be it inside your house or outside, life is much quieter here.
After all, it’s the people that make you feel at home. Your family might be away from you, but you can always stay connected to them via Facebook, WhatsApp, or Skype.
You may refer to these sounds as noise back home. Be it the calling of the vegetable seller, the occasional trash collector, the numerous vendors (who know exactly when you take your afternoon nap so that your sleep would surely be destroyed by their yelling), vehicles hooting, screeching, stopping on the adjacent street.
2. The festivals
As we all know, there are a ton of festivals in India like Diwali, Holi, Eid, Navroz, Vaisakhi, & Christmas. And these festivals are celebrated with much joy and passion. Every festival has a unique reason behind people celebrating it. For example, Diwali is celebrated in honour of the return of Lord Ram, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshman from exile 14 years after Ram defeated Ravana; and Holi, the festival of colours is celebrated as a triumph of good over evil. It does not matter what religion you come from, festivals were a big reason for bringing people together irrespective of religion.
You will also miss the family gatherings that used to happen despite the family disputes. All those disputes take the backseat when festivals arrive.
More importantly, you will always remember your favourite sweets, the decorated streets and markets, the preparations and shopping at home, and your official "day off" from work.
3. Home-cooked food
Let's face it! We all miss the "home-cooked" and "prepared with love" food that our moms or dads used to prepare for us.
Although it is safe to say that there are a lot of Indian restaurants abroad, we all know it does not taste the same. But still, there is something about home-cooked food that makes all the difference. It is something you can never replicate no matter how hard you try or find at even top-tier restaurants.
4. Help at the corner
In India, it is not uncommon to seek help from your neighbour as being a neighbour will automatically endow you with the right to ask for sugar, tea, milk, curd, water, salt, or any other grocery item you have fallen short of. Or when you are visiting a place for the first time and need help with directions?
Well, people back home in India are very helpful as it is a very cultural thing to help any and every person who asks for help. In case of an emergency, your neighbours are the ones who will rush to help you before anyone else does. This does not at all mean that people abroad aren't helpful. People are extremely helpful and will go all the way to help you out; it's just a matter of asking.
5. The crowd
There are 1.2 billion people in India, and there is no way for you to run away from it. For instance, public transport is extremely crowded. The situation is the worst during peak hours. These situations are pretty common in big cities like Mumbai or New Delhi as these places have more job opportunities than other parts of India.
This does not mean that public transport outside India isn't crowded but it is less crowded. For instance, in Vancouver, people usually line up and enter the bus. It is an unsaid rule and no matter what time of the day it might be, everyone follows this rule.
Regardless of how much we might miss our home, it is always possible to find a homely feeling abroad.
It is merely a matter of going out and making those connections & you’ll find a home away from home quite easily.
