Dear all, I am back at home after my joyful visit to Islamabad the Beautiful. I love this city a lot. Very calm and quiet. I could not write much during my visit but here I am back to the duty. During my visit I met with many people I love. Family, friends, and university buddies. Feeling very nostalgic right now. December has something that made you feel sad and happy at the same time. I do not know how to express this irresistible feeling.
Today I am feeling homesick despite I am in my home. When I left for MBA Programme many people claimed it is your first time out of house. You would live in a hostel and would miss your home like anything. Guess that was not the case. Also it surprised me. My first visit to home was after two months and second at the semester break. I remember coming home after a full 2nd semester (4 months). I settled in very well there but now this uncanny phenomenon has begun as soon as I think about my past time of university it starts to bother me that I did not miss my home as much as I do now.
Both interviews went well, the main purpose of visiting Islamabad. Now I am waiting for the next call. Need your prayers very much. I shall write again soon and please leave your thoughts about homesickness and your experience with it. Mine has been very different.
- Usman Saeed
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Interesting indeed, here is what I have experienced. Back in 98-99, I was 18 when left for studies. I set my goals high as I was fairly ambitious young person, well still is but not young anymore. First two and half years went pass flying as there were several things to worry about, to name the few i.e. studies, lots of friends and sports etc. I never had the feeling of homesickness partly thanks to good friends and experiences of newly found liberty. Well what I meant from liberty is “No Watch”. I was never a reckless boy but when you have strict parents with close guard, at times you get fed-up. Parents do have their reasons for strictness which partially are correct but at times it gets difficult for young boys to digest or to be more precise understand. I was loving it but even at that time, I knew my limits and had the clear idea about right and wrong so never got caught in tricky situations partially due to good mates and strict brought up. All in all during bachelors , I studied hard, partied hard and enjoyed the loads.
ReplyDeleteAfter graduation, I moved to new city for Masters where new challenges, opportunities and people were waiting. I endured another two years of studies but it was very different from previous qualifications, you were expected to take the leadership of your destiny. The sort of maturity expected from us was several degrees up from bachelors, so I just put my head down and went with the flow. Off-course, I had few good mates and we enjoyed whenever we can but generally life was fairly busy or at least a lot more than before. In whole tenure, during masters never have any homesickness. First time I felt it when I was continuing the professional life. What I understood from my experience is; during studies we generally are stretched but still we got a lot of friends to share, discuss and talk our heads out but once in professional life friends part their ways so we feel isolated. It’s not that we don’t have friends anymore but we just can’t get hold of them often and colleagues are mostly people who are professional first friends after.
That’s the time when we generally feel homesickness. Luckily for me, I got a great family to fall back. I do share a special bond with my parents and brothers as I don’t have any sister. We got good understanding, can discuss freely even on contentious topics or grey areas and are fairly open to each other. One other thing I also realised is while away from home, I learn to compromise or disregard if don’t like something so why can’t do similar to create harmony and affection within family. There can be difference of opinion within families but with open mindedness can be resolved amicably. Advent of low-cost communication is also a major factor in fighting homesickness. I have been away from my country and family for almost eight years whenever I feel like talking to my loved ones; I just grab the phone and talk. It keeps me motivated and ready for new challenges life throws at me. The crux of 13 years of living alone is Homesickness won’t touch you if you have transparent, open exchange of ideas with your family and close mates. It will only get you, once you will detach from family and friends. That’s my experience, you can have different take to this.
First of all, I want to thank you for finally reading my blog and your esteemed comments. And frankly speaking I did not expect anyone to comment so openly and in-detail. Your explanation was beautiful about your life journey.
ReplyDeleteOur experiences certainly differ but one thing is common - that at some point of life we all feel homesick and yearn to be back at the place we belong :)
It is true that I had became a very secretive person for some reasons but that time is over now, I guess.
Life is all about everyday experiences, some we like some we don't. What matters is how we react to them, One thing is for sure that we will all be known by the actions and choices we make. I have realised that if something no matter how big or small bothers you, sort that out. If you can't sort it out on your own, seek advice from people with experience. They might come up with different opinions or contrary to your thoughts but still you will have collective wisdom and you will also have catharsis.
ReplyDeleteOne should be impartial while reaching the conclusions, to put it precisely “Leave the emotions, Society, External Pressures and perceptions aside, select purely on the merits, morality and demerits. You can pick and choose all of it or may be part of it according to your strengths or flaws. I do realise most of these things are easier said than done but once you get used to it, It’s not difficult.
I am always there, if you feel like talking; you know my skpe ID,give me a buzz and we can talk anytime over weekends or in weekdays within lunch hour or after working hours.
Duly noted :)
ReplyDeletelovely !!
ReplyDeleteI have never been far from home for that much longer period of time, but still when I went for Pakistan tour, after exactly 5 days i extremely started missing my home, my parents, my computer :D .. everyone was cursing me.. that this moment .. at beautiful places like this, and you are missing karachi? (in fact my home)... so I finally realized, that would be so much difficult for me to live or spend longer period of time being away from my home...let see!
Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLol count me as everyone :P but not with the cursing part.