Page 28 - Expressions - 22

here did not wait for me, so I had to move on country, move cities. All the hostellers reading
quickly. You don’t even have enough time to
grieve. The weather is not easy to cope with.
Especially after living in southern part of India
where it is mostly sunny, the absence of sun
and cold temperatures affects you mentally.
Adapting to the new pattern of study is not
a cake walk too. Plagiarism is an offence,
and you get punished severely for it in these
universities. For unintended plagiarism, I
received zero points on two assignments! So,
now I know how to accomplish my work more
efficiently.
As I write this on the flight back home from
Vancouver after my vacations post my second
semester, I wonder how Windsor went from
a foreign land to home for me in the past 8
months!
Was it because of my senior who first helped me
out? Was it because of my efforts to finish tasks
from day one? Was it because I met wonderful
people in my house and my workplace?
Was it because of the Canadian culture of
welcoming immigrants very friendlily? Maybe
it was a bit of everything. Or maybe it was just
luck, or maybe it’s just time. Whatever it was,
I learnt a lot in these few months of staying
independently in a completely new city without
any support from known people.
First, getting things done gives you a boost in
your confidence that is unparalleled to anything
else. Secondly, meeting people from different
culture gives opens up a world of opportunities
for you. So, move out of your house. If not
28 Expressions '22
this, you have already done it and you can be
proud of yourself for that.
Earning and living independently teaches
you a lot about financial management which
is generally a less spoken topic back in
Indian households. Working, studying, and
running errands for your house teaches you
to multitask. Time management - something I
learnt by messing up my sleep schedule a lot
of times. You also learn to take responsibility
of your tasks, especially academic. Lastly, you
learn how simple gestures- a good morning
from the bus driver, a thank you from your
coffee server, a sorry from someone who
unintentionally blocked your way, make your
day brighter than usual.
The day you move out of your house to pursue
your life goals is the last day you live in your
house, and you will never know it. Even if you
go home for festivals or vacations, you will be
a visitor now. It is a difficult pill to swallow but
you will cherish the rewards you get for all the
struggles you go through in this phase of life.