u/wheygirl

I’ve been living 9 years abroad now. And there have been phases where I have felt completely lonely and depressed. Over the years, I figured that I have to find my family here, find things which make me feel at home. There’s no one coming to save me.

I’ve found a couple:
- took the effort to bond with a retired Oma and Opa here (my neighbours). Their kids live abroad and I help them get groceries, cook desi food for them, and go for a chat once a month.
- going for Bollywood dance parties (now men don’t hit on me anymore, signs that I have become old lol so I loooove being unhinged)
- have a couple of desi friends and we celebrate Indian festivals together

I’d love to know.. how have you made it feel like home abroad? What do you do for that sense of belonging?

I did this exercise in therapy yesterday which totally changed my PoV on life. I had to invite my 10 year old self to my current life, show them around my house, my husband, my kid, the nearby park I go to, my workplace, and my wardrobe (such lovely clothes than what I wore back then).

I was having a rough month but doing this exercise really made me proud of how far I have come. And how good life is now. I know we are consumed my chores all the time, but moments like these really make you grateful, which sometimes needs to be reminded of.

Hope y'all having a great weekend :)

Last evening while cleaning out my closet, I found an old book with a polaroid of my college besties tucked inside as a bookmark.

The second I saw it, so many memories came flooding back. Inside jokes, endless cold coffee breaks, discussing crushes, heartbreaks, and the obnoxious amount of free time we had to spend with one another.

It also made me realise how much time has passed… how much I’ve changed, and honestly, how much we’ve all changed. We barely talk now. Everyone’s caught up in their own lives, carrying their own battles, becoming different versions of themselves.

There’s one friend in particular I thought of. We don’t really speak anymore because somewhere along the way our opinions and worldviews became so different that the friendship quietly drifted.

And I kept wondering...if you could say one thing to that old gal pal you don’t really talk to anymore… what would it be?

Source: xomarielle, Pinterest

I recently wanted to order a book in a physical bookstore (because I want to do that more) and the shopkeeper immediately said the book was way too expensive for that and that it would be much cheaper online (it was, 70 Euro instead of 100+ in the store). I've never encountered this level of selfless honesty and it's pretty awesome.

I'll go first: I wanted to be a doctor. As I grew up, I realised the hardships of the profession that dulled down my passion.

I now work in the interface of research and business in biotech companies

It's summer YAY! For what felt like an eternity of winter, the sun is finally out, and I'm beyond elated. In Europe, this means slower work hours and parks filled with people having fun.

My fav summer activity is sun-bathing in my balcony with a book and some chilled beer. What's yours? I'd love to know!

I’d tell mine to refuse the arranged marriage proposals, take that goddamn job as a scientist, and live life on her own terms.

Maybe she would’ve met someone who healed her instead of making things harder.

What would you say to yours?

Meeting someone abroad can be a bit more challenging than when living in India. You’re either navigating intercultural relationships, choosing from a smaller pool of Indian men, managing a LDR with your partner back home, or trying your luck with online dating. Each path comes with its own set of stories.

Source: Alchemy (Pinterest)

I grew up middle class, so every little thing we bought felt like a big deal. I still remember when my dad got a bonus and my mom was set on getting a Kashmiri carpet. They had gone to Kashmir for their honeymoon, so it meant something.

Since it was such a big expense, she took me to the shop multiple times, quite nervous before making the purchase. I used to hate those trips. No kid enjoys home shopping! But that carpet ended up being the centerpiece of our living room for decades (and still is!).

It’s such a strong part of my childhood. I ended up getting one for my home here in the Netherlands, and in a strange way, it takes me right back to those simpler times.

What’s something like that for you?

My friend back home unwinds by going to the salon every week. I wish I had the pockets to do that living abroad (I mean getting my eyebrows done costs me 20 EU!). I'm curious how do you unwind after a tiring week?

I’ll go first. My neighbour aunty saw me after years, and without asking me how am I, she immediately said, “Beta, you’ve become very thin there. You now need fat to have babies”

Every trip home comes with its own set of unsolicited, wildly confident comments.

What’s the most ridiculous /funny thing someone has said to you?

Image credits: Pinterest (couldn't find the artist's name)