From us to you

Hard Decisions

I still remember the day I had to leave my country, my family and my friends, as if it happened yesterday. It was one of the most difficult decisions I had to take, a career that I always wanted was waiting for me in the so called 'country of promises' — UAE 'Dubai'.

For this I had to leave many things behind me. I never thought this day would come, the day where I part with my family. You would think that being away would make you stronger, I only believe that my feelings for them grew stronger, I never, felt the importance of their presence in my life, until they were no longer there. Sometimes we do take them for granted, after all they are our family.

My older brother came to visit me last week, I was so happy to receive him and be with him again. I felt nostalgic, memories from here and there flashed back, they were crystal clear as if they had happened two days ago. For a moment, I forgot that we had grown up, now he is a dad and I am mother-to-be, the idea that we were gathered as a family suited me better.

I can smell the rain in my country I can picture my dad watching the news and my mother sitting very close to the heater almost hugging it, in an attempt to get warm and my younger brother roaming around the sitting room desperately trying to get their attention. This is how it felt at home, warm even on the coldest of days.

His visit was short, I did not see much of him, but it was long enough to bring the best colourful memories. It was when he had to leave when reality hits, we are still family, but each one of us has his own nuclear family, each one of us has a life to lead somewhere far from where we were raised, somewhere that we are supposed to call home now, because eventually this is will be home for our children.

I have to say this kind of grows on you, but it never wipes away the feeling you have for your real home, because home is never home without family.