10 things that happen when you live away from home for the first time
Do you remember the time when you were at home, may be when you were in school or college? You were bored of staying at home. You wanted to go to a new city, to be independent, to live by yourself! And when that opportunity knocks at your door, you grab it with both your hands. Sometimes your parents may ask you to let it slip away. But that is a different story. So finally when you fly away from your cocoon here is what happens!
1. The beginning is always fun
A new city, new surroundings, new people, a different way of life! It is all so exciting. A new beginning is what you seek and a new beginning is what you get!
2.You enjoy being a free bird
After all these years of being at home, you are now a free bird. Well there will be some restrictions. But hey, you are independent now. You can take care of yourself.
3. And then life happens
Staying away from home has its own benefits. But everything has a difficult part of it right? The clothes won’t magically clean, dry, press and fold the themselves. The food won’t get prepared by itself. Yes you can order, but for how long? You then realize that it is not as easy as you thought it was.
4. You learn to do your own chores
Well you may have done all your chores at home. But on those occasional days when you were too tired or too lazy to do something, mom took care of all of it. May be you would be scolded for all the hundred and one things that you should have done but didn’t do. But then, the work is done if you are at home. But not the case when you are living by yourself. Mom won’t come and do everything for you. You have to get things done. You begin to appreciate all that your parents have done for you so far.
5. The Status updates continue
No these are not the Facebook Status updates. Did you think the “Did you eat something?”, “Where did you go?”, “Why late?” would stop. No definitely not. Now that you are away the watchful eye may not be there, but the anxious parent brain will ensure that they are kept posted.
6. You begin to miss home
The new life may be exciting; full of new things to do and new friends to make. But the warmth of familiarity is always endearing. You begin to miss your family, your favourite spot at home, the food that mom makes, your friends and neighbours back at your place, the familiar streets which you knew like the back of your hand. One day when you are sitting alone and have nothing to do, all of the memories rushing back to you. You miss home, and maybe you may also cry.
7. And then you fall sick
Missing home is one thing, but missing home when you are sick is at a totally different level. You must take care of yourself. Mom won’t come to check on you every single time. The calls may continue but then you have to take care of yourself. You may feel like it was better if you were at home. And maybe you will cry.
8. You emerge stronger
The struggle makes you stronger. You learn to take care of yourself and all your belongings. You learn to live by yourself. You may falter at times but you know how to stand back up. You feel better. You feel stronger.
9.And it is time to go home
You check the calendar and you keep checking it repeatedly. You look for long weekends because then you can go home. The tickets are booked as soon as they are open for booking. The bags are packed well in advance because you so excited to go home. You can’t be late. You can’t miss that bus/train/flight.
10. Home. Pampering level- 20,000
And when you finally arrive at home you are the king/queen! A royal treatment awaits you. All of your favourite dishes are prepared and immaterial of whether you have put on weight in the time that you were away, you still appear weak to the people at home. To them, you have always lost weight and their mission? To ensure that you weigh the double of what you currently weigh!
Did this post ring a bell? Did it make you nod your head constantly in agreement? Or are there other things that you went through when you first moved away? This was all based on my experience and written on the request of a dear friend of mine. Hope you loved reading. More such lists to follow. Suggestions welcome!
My Alexa rank is at a dismal 4,565,294 . I am taking my Alexa rank to the next level with Blogchatter.
Nice post reema.
Thank you Josly
Nice
Thanks!
AH! totally understand!!1 especially the feeling when you get back home, the warmth and the love that is showered!!!
Yes, there is so much love right when you go home after a long time!
Such a realistic post,Reema! Could relate to all the points you mentioned above 🙂 Wonderful post! 🙂
Thank you Saumy 🙂
OMG…I could totally relate to all of them – Once upon a Hostel Girl
Hahaha.. the story of all our lives.
Reema, you’re really fun, realistic and honest about what you write. I’m sure all of us can relate to this. Lots of luck to you!
Thank you Manavi 🙂
This one is good Reema ☺☺
Thank you Vijeta 🙂
Reminds me of the time when I had started living on my own and yes food and clothes were the biggest problems. My troubles were compounded since I was in a travel intensive job wherein I would walk in and out of my house at odd hours. I remember the neighbourhood dhabha guy once asking me (when i had called up to order for home delivery), dont you cook at home? – I was so embaressed. But he was a sweetheart and once realised my predicamnet; would even deliver one more roti / bread / eggs – if I would call to.
Cheers to an awesome time with Alexa and blogchatter!
That was so sweet of him! All of us encounter such people on our journey to staying alone!
Almost all points are true for me.
I am first time outside of my home since 2 years, and had seen all the phases you describe, but the good thing is that I love it, I love all the new hard changes, because they have changed me alot in a very positive way 🙂
That is true. We do learn a lot in the process.
Hahaha, you’ve perfectly summed up everything. Having studied in a boarding school for 4 years, this transition was fairly easy for me. I love that SpongeBob cartoon 😛
It was easy for you? That is nice! And I love the cartoon too!
Ha! Tell me about it! I was in a hostel for 8 years until y wedding. And even now when I have a home of my own, I truly miss “my home” with Mom and Dad 🙁
Love the GIFs 🙂
The missing home syndrome is always there 😀
OMG ask me about this, this is my 10th year staying away from my family and hometown – actually I have a family of my own now!
Well no matter how many years pass by we still find it difficult don’t we?
Reminds me of my college days..exactly the same chronology..oh I remember not feeling hungry for days together
Food is the best part of going home!
Liked visiting your new home I mean this place. Nice one reema. All of us go through this feeling when we leave home for the first time .
Thank you Anindya 🙂
Haha perfect! Oh and you shouldn’t stay at home for more than two days coz the pampering is a limited period offer 😛
Hahahaha.. that is there!
I am sure..we all can relate to it at some point in our life..good one!
Thank you Deepa 🙂
Reading this was instant nostalgia! Perfectly sums up my years in Bombay, alone, away from home!
I am glad it brought back the old memories!
You finally got a good paying job, you left for college, or your parents are sick of your crap. No matter what the reason is… you’re outta there, pal! You’re about to embark on the wonderful journey that is living on your own. There’s nobody to tell you what time to go to bed, to turn the music down, to clean your stuff up, or to stop throwing wet paper towels at the wall. Nobody is the boss of you. Except of course your landlord, roommates, neighbors, and pretty much anyone who sends you a bill. You have made it. You are taking care of yourself, and you proved the haters wrong. High five. You’re awesome!
That is true! Thanks Roms. 🙂
Ahaa, its fastidious discussion concerning this
article at this place at this web site, I have read
all that, so at this time me also commenting here. http://bing.org
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you
writing this post plus the rest of the website is extremely good. http://yahoo.co.uk
Thank you
Very well framed buddy & totally agreed with your points 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Yes..yes..yes..
Almost 15 year away from home 🙂
But home is always home !!
Yes that is true!
I’ll right away take hold of your rss as I
can’t find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service.
Do you have any? Please permit me know so that I may subscribe.
Thanks. http://www.yahoo.net
Ahaa, its pleasant dialogue regarding this post here at this website, I have read all that,
so now me also commenting here. http://yahoo.org
Missing home when being sick is homesickness of cosmic level… it’s a terrible feeling.
Living alone has it’s own learning curve, but the familiarity of home will always be missed 🙂
Yes that is the time you miss home the most!
He he so cutely you told the 10 things and exactly this all happens …enjoyed reading
Thank you Dixu 🙂
First time I stayed away from home in Safdarjung hospital hostel in Delhi I used to cry at night because I had to get my own food .I hated falling really ill.Had to learn to cook.But when I got married I realized the hostel training was great.It’s life training
Yes that is true! We learn to be responsible.
I agree with all points especially when I lived away from home in hostel.
Yes, we all feel it when we are away!
Wow! The last one takes the cake :). You know even though I have been away from home for the last 11 years, even today, point 10 applies :D.