This week marks the halfway point of the semester, and I have been feeling a lot of things: tired, amused, overwhelmed, and cold. One feeling has made its presence very clear: homesickness.
When I get up in the morning, I miss waking up to the sight of my dog wagging her tail. While eating breakfast, I think of the steaming, hot idlis and chai my dad would frequently make before school. I regularly call home, but it is just not the same as being there. I have always loved sharing the details of my day with my parents. I love asking for my mom’s advice on anything ranging from friendships to handling stress. I’ve never been the kid who says “good” when asked how their day was. As soon as I would get home from school, I would give my mom a rapid-fire rundown of everything that happened that day. My dog would also listen intently, even though she didn’t understand what I was saying (or maybe she did 🙂).
A couple of weeks ago, when I was on FaceTime with my mom, my dog, upon hearing my voice, brought toys to the phone so she could play with me. One can only handle so much cuteness, okay!
Right now, my family is celebrating Navarathri, a festival that is very near and dear to my heart. It directly translates to “nine nights” and embraces feminine power. In the days leading up to Navarathri, I have always helped my mom keep the golu (a set-up with an odd number of steps and dolls artfully arranged on each step). This was the first year I wasn’t there for that. I miss chatting with the guests who come to my house, seeing other families’ golus, and singing during this special time of year. I was able to see our golu through FaceTime, which I am happy about.
While homesickness has been hitting, college has kept me pretty occupied. I had another midterm last week. I also danced at Garba, performed for the first time with my a cappella group at the SASA Formal, and won a few rounds of poker (with chips) at a casino-themed gala 🙂.
Though I find myself thinking of home from time to time, I must say that college has brought a lot of fun experiences.
Until we meet again!
Siddhi
