Ever since I have arrived here, a few have asked me if I missed my family and friends back in Asia. I usually, answered the usual way, by saying yes. But to be honest, I never knew what they referring to when they said "miss"; that feeling of absence has strangely eluded me ever since my arrival.
A person whom I just met told me that, she cried a lot when she left her family in Bloomington, Indiana; two hours away from here. At the time she said that, I found it hard to relate to what she went through. "Why would you miss someone when in the back of your mind you know you will see them again in like a month or two ?", I would say to myself.
You might think I'm kind of dead inside but hold on. I think I've felt that feeling of "absence".
I don't know if you have noticed it or not, but in every single cafeteria, you never get to smell your food being cooked. Sure the food gives of an aroma but you don't get THAT SPECIFIC AROMA that makes you want to eat everything you possibly can. To me cafeteria food is lifeless that lack a special ingredient that makes every bite an experience to remember.
I miss being able to smell my mom's cooking. I miss the pungent smell of a juicy Indian chicken curry. I miss the distinct fragrances of masalas and spices that gave life to the food I once ate. I miss the strong yet soothing whiff of chilliness, characteristic of Indian cuisine. And the list goes on and on.
I guess it's safe to say, I'm starting to miss home.
I don't think its unusual not missing home at first. Whenever I have gone abroad for a significant amount of time, the first month or so is always so new and exciting that you rarely have time to think of home. It might make you feel a bit guilty, but I think its normal!
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