A Chapter Closes, But the Story Continues

For The Exclusive,

Nehal Naik

---

Moving away from where you have lived for six years is not merely waving goodbye to the place

or the habits that you have formed in that particular nation, it's about leaving a life that has

become your own and also the people throughout the whole period of 6 years who have

become your family in this foreign land when you entered.

When we initially arrived, everything was new and there were numerous challenges, the

language, the culture along with the rhythm of day-to-day life. But gradually day by day, it

eventually turned into home because of the people and the relationships we formed with those

specific individuals as time passed. The country not only taught us things in school, but life,

lessons that could not possibly be discovered from a text book and which could only be

acquired by an individual when he chooses to venture out into the world from the comfort of his

house and his parents' arms that he has known throughout his life into a new world to attempt to

make sense of life on his own.

As 6 years have passed in this place this area has instilled strength, self-sufficiency, how to establish relationships and friendships which will endure throughout our life.

We found companionship that remained our sources of strength and emotional support all these

years. We celebrated festivals outside our families, learned to cook, and found comfort in

shared struggles and laughter with fellow travelers who made this journey ours.

Now that the time to leave is ahead of us, there's this feeling of sadness in our hearts. There are

people we might never be able to see again, locations we might never visit again, and

experiences that we wish we could live once more and enjoy it to the fullest. The thought of

packing, saying goodbye to those people around you and leaving a place where you've lived for

6 years which literally witnessed our growth as a person over the years, our tears and our

happiness it literally breaks my heart as that period is very close now. But as bittersweet as it

is, I know we all are really grateful and content with how all these years passed by. Grateful for

the memories, milestones, late-night talks, friend adventures and the feeling of belonging that

developed over time.

Personally, I believe that leaving is not the end, it's just part of the story of our life which we have initiated here.

The place, the people near your hearts, and these moments will live in our

hearts and all the intimate relationships that we share with people will go on for a lifetime.

We all might be going miles away, but a part of the memories we have created here in this

nation, our home for the last 6 years, will forever travel with us. And while we close this chapter,

we do so with hearts full, eyes misty, and grateful beyond words.