Home

The year 2023 was the year that made me ponder the concept of home a lot. Although I still might not have found my concrete definition of home, I know there are three cities I spent a little time in each in the last year that I today call home. I have to say it is not easy to have found multiple homes. I mean it's beautiful, and fun, and many more good things, but not easy. So let me tell you a little about each place I was at in the year 2023 that I consider my safe haven.

I started the year in Switzerland. I was in Switzerland for just two years and lived in Lucerne the entire time. And I was not prepared to leave. I started the year on a rather sad note as I was closer to leaving Lucerne. This was the only time when I dreaded the entire packing process. I wanted to do nothing that reminded me of leaving. The two years I spent there sure had their ups and downs. But it was a beautiful time. I had a Found-Family at the hotel school, with whom I celebrated every special occasion. I loved the second year even more - my first full time job, my first rented apartment. Lucerne was the city where I started my independent adult life, and I have so many things to thank the city for. I sure missed my family and my friends back home. However, Lucerne gave me enough love and warmth that I do not recall any point where I felt homesick. I have experienced the feeling of homesickness only when I left Lucerne. A lot of people here in America have heard me say, if I say I feel homesick, I mean I miss Lucerne. So, this was my ‘Found home’. In early March, I flew back to India. And the weeks before I had to leave were probably the toughest. My family was thrilled to have me back. I was looking forward to them too. But the leaving-home feeling seemed a little stronger than the going-home feeling.

The flight to India was one emotionally overwhelming flight I have taken.

I was back in Pune, the city I grew up in. A few years back I was bored of the city and desperately wanted to get out of it. I still have a love-hate relationship with Pune. On most days, you won’t find me obsessing over the place I grew up in or saying, "Oh, I miss Pune." But every once in a while, you will see me tell how beautiful my city is and how one should once come visit me there. Let’s keep it to me having a mixed opinion there. But none of that changed the fact - my family is still there. When I say family, it is mainly my mum. And I am very close to a few of my cousins. All younger than me, and I adore them! They were more excited than me to celebrate my birthday after 2 years, and I cannot tell how sweet that was. I had a small reunion with my university friends. We met our professors, sat at the same table we used to have back then at the canteen. Laughter and gossips were shared just like before. We had lots of life updates, and yet there was a feeling that nothing ever changed. I never realized how much I needed that. That was one day when I felt ‘I AM HOME!’

Just when it felt like being back to the life I had growing up, I had to leave. It was time to come to the States. Everyone back home was surprised (rather shocked) when I initially shared that America was the next destination, as everyone knew I never really wanted to come here.

I flew here with absolutely no expectations of liking it in any way. Forget about finding another home. But Chicago worked its magic. And here I am, in my new ‘Found Home.’ This journey was even more interesting as it started with no expectations. I knew nothing about the city before moving here. Jump to now. You will see me talk about the neighborhoods, recommend the hidden gems for good food, have an opinion on the red line, or say "Go Bears!". Although I have never lived in any other city in America, I know I will argue saying, "Chicago is the best." It has become My Chicago. It's home!

So basically, it's yet another year. New year, new January, where I am left with the same old dilemma, where I am sad about having to slowly start packing to leave but also making plans with my people back in Pune.

This time I am just better prepared. I know it is not going to be easy. I know it will be overwhelming. This is the risk when you constantly move to a different place. As hard as it gets at times, I am willingly glad I took this risk. I might constantly struggle answering where is home. So I am just going to say I have 3 homes (as of now) – Pune, Lucerne, and Chicago. Every place is special in its way. A piece of my heart, of me belongs to my each home.