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Name: AKA
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Friday, September 22, 2006
One of the best feelings in the world is coming home after spending a long time away from it. Though most would argue over what constitutes "a long time", but in my case, one month was just that.
It was just about a month ago that I sqaushed all my worldly possessions into our mini-van and drove to Michigan to start my law school career. And though many have said that time has flown by, and it didn't even seem like a month, to me it seemed close to an eternity.
I'm guessing that this anxious excitement will wane when it comes time for my next trip (Oct 27-30, tentatively) for my family, friends and I. It's the novelty of that first trip home that gets the emotions flowing. After that, trips home become routine and nothing special.
My mom has taken to treating me like a guest during this first trip. Gone are the family room couch throws, all the beds have been made extra nice, carpets everywhere vacuumed meticulously (it's not that we're regularly dirty people, it's just that you can see the roller marks from the vacuum meaning it's just been done), special menus considered and prepared. As much as I appreciate the gestures it hurts to think that I've become a guest in my own home. So the first thing I did was to put the couch throws back, get into my pajamas, put my hair up, and space out in front of the tv. Utter bliss.
The drive here wasn't bad, surprisingly. I thought I'd get bored and sleepy and just bored. But with the right music and a loud singing voice, anyone can make time pass by quicker. Normally (and by that I mean when my dad drives) it takes us about 5+ hours to get from "my place in Michgan" (that's what I call it, instead of "home") to home. I got here in exactly 4.5 hours. I left at 9am (though the original plan had been to leave at 7am...thanks to Shazia and Iram, that plan didn't work) and rolled into my driveway at 1:30 on the dot.
I thought they'd ask me all sorts of questions at customs, but the only concern the officer had was why I didn't have a license plate on my car (I just got it last Friday, dealership didn't get the plates so I have a temporary license tape to the back window). I explained my cause and after asking where I was coming and going, he motioned for me to leave. Holding my passport, birth certificate and immigration documents from school I looked at him confused. Didn't he want to know my name? Why I was there? Question me about food, plants or animals in my car? My nationality?? Nope. "You can go" is all he said. Damn, and I had eloquent answers prepared for him. Maybe I just look really innocent? We'll see what they ask on my way back when trying to get back into the U.S. But I don't have to worry about that until Monday.
It was just about a month ago that I sqaushed all my worldly possessions into our mini-van and drove to Michigan to start my law school career. And though many have said that time has flown by, and it didn't even seem like a month, to me it seemed close to an eternity.
I'm guessing that this anxious excitement will wane when it comes time for my next trip (Oct 27-30, tentatively) for my family, friends and I. It's the novelty of that first trip home that gets the emotions flowing. After that, trips home become routine and nothing special.
My mom has taken to treating me like a guest during this first trip. Gone are the family room couch throws, all the beds have been made extra nice, carpets everywhere vacuumed meticulously (it's not that we're regularly dirty people, it's just that you can see the roller marks from the vacuum meaning it's just been done), special menus considered and prepared. As much as I appreciate the gestures it hurts to think that I've become a guest in my own home. So the first thing I did was to put the couch throws back, get into my pajamas, put my hair up, and space out in front of the tv. Utter bliss.
The drive here wasn't bad, surprisingly. I thought I'd get bored and sleepy and just bored. But with the right music and a loud singing voice, anyone can make time pass by quicker. Normally (and by that I mean when my dad drives) it takes us about 5+ hours to get from "my place in Michgan" (that's what I call it, instead of "home") to home. I got here in exactly 4.5 hours. I left at 9am (though the original plan had been to leave at 7am...thanks to Shazia and Iram, that plan didn't work) and rolled into my driveway at 1:30 on the dot.
I thought they'd ask me all sorts of questions at customs, but the only concern the officer had was why I didn't have a license plate on my car (I just got it last Friday, dealership didn't get the plates so I have a temporary license tape to the back window). I explained my cause and after asking where I was coming and going, he motioned for me to leave. Holding my passport, birth certificate and immigration documents from school I looked at him confused. Didn't he want to know my name? Why I was there? Question me about food, plants or animals in my car? My nationality?? Nope. "You can go" is all he said. Damn, and I had eloquent answers prepared for him. Maybe I just look really innocent? We'll see what they ask on my way back when trying to get back into the U.S. But I don't have to worry about that until Monday.
I missed home. The further I drove down Hwy 401 and the closer I got to the exit, the more jumpy I got. You'd think nothing would change in short month, but to see the construction of buildings completed, when they were only steel frames when you last left, just changes your mental layout of places you pass by daily. And I will admit, I was most excited to pass by Tim Horton's then anything else. Then came my friend's street, local mall, grocery stores, and a short while later my house. I refuse to call Michigan "home", because true to my dorkish-self, I say that if home is where your heart is, then I never left.
4 Comments:
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Nice to hear you're back. Keep up the blogging!
Hana
Hana: It's the only thing keeping me sane at the moment. Hope you're doing well :)
on a more welcoming note: YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! You're back in town... and i can't believe that its already been a month... time really has flown by!
Btw, Ramadan Mubarak to you and your family! When are you guys starting(?) Ramadan.. Saturday or Sunday? Once again.. split decision within the community. I am leaning towards Sunday but parents are leaning towards ISNA= Saturday. Does that mean I get two eid suits?! :D
I just don't understand why we can't decide on ONE day. Flip a coin, play rock-paper-scissors, eenie meenie miney mo - whatever it takes. I just want consistency and above all, unity. But either way, it's an amazing month and I pray we can all benefit from it.