Far From The Home I Love

Aparna Sharma stared out of the airplane window, her eyes tracing the patterns of clouds below, white puffs suspended against an endless blue sky. She had never seen the world from this height before. In fact, she had never traveled this far from home. Chennai was all she had known her entire life—its vibrant streets, the scent of jasmine in the air, the sounds of bustling markets, and the comforting familiarity of family and friends. But now, that chapter of her life was closing, and a new one was about to begin in a city she had only read about—Atlanta, Georgia.

The decision to study abroad had been one of the most difficult of her life. Aparna was close to her family—her parents, her younger brother Arjun, and her grandparents who lived with them. They were her world, her support system, and the thought of leaving them behind had filled her with a mixture of excitement and fear. But she knew that this opportunity was too significant to pass up. Studying computer science at Georgia Tech was a dream come true, a chance to learn from some of the best minds in the field and to push herself beyond the limits of what she had thought possible.

Her parents had been supportive, though she could sense the underlying worry in their eyes. Her mother had fussed over her packing, making sure she had enough of everything—from her favorite snacks to extra woolen clothes to fight the cold she would surely face in the United States. Her father had given her a long, heartfelt talk about staying focused, making the most of her time there, and, most importantly, staying true to herself. Arjun, on the other hand, had been excited for her but had also made her promise to bring back lots of souvenirs.

As the plane began its descent, Aparna’s heart raced. She had read about the cultural differences, the challenges of adjusting to a new environment, and the potential for loneliness. But reading about something and experiencing it firsthand were two entirely different things. Would she fit in? Would she make friends? Would she be able to keep up with the academic rigor?

The wheels of the plane touched down, jolting her from her thoughts. She was here. Atlanta. Thousands of miles from Chennai, she was about to start her journey in a new country, a new culture, and a new life.

The first thing that struck Aparna as she stepped out of the airport was the sheer size of everything. The terminal seemed enormous, with people rushing past her, speaking in a language that, while familiar, sounded different when spoken by so many around her. The accents, the rapid pace of their speech, and the diversity of faces around her were overwhelming.

She clutched her bag tightly, her knuckles turning white as she navigated her way through the crowds to the baggage claim. Her parents had insisted on arranging for a driver to pick her up and take her to the dorms. As she waited for her luggage, she scanned the area for someone holding a sign with her name.

“Aparna Sharma?” a voice called out, pronouncing her name with a thick Southern drawl.

She turned to see a man in his mid-forties, holding a sign with her name on it, smiling warmly at her. He was tall, with a graying beard and a friendly demeanor that put her somewhat at ease.

“That’s me,” she said, approaching him.

“Welcome to Atlanta, Miss Sharma! My name’s Hank, and I’ll be taking you to your dorm. How was your flight?”

“It was good, thank you,” Aparna replied, her voice a little shaky. The reality of her new life was beginning to sink in.

“Great! Well, let’s get you settled in. You must be tired after such a long journey.”

Hank helped her with her bags, and soon they were on their way to the dorms. As they drove through the city, Aparna couldn’t help but marvel at the differences. The streets were wide and clean, the buildings tall and modern, and there was a distinct sense of order and space that contrasted sharply with the chaotic yet familiar streets of Chennai.

“First time in the States?” Hank asked as they stopped at a red light.

“Yes,” Aparna replied, gazing out the window at the unfamiliar surroundings. “It’s all so new to me.”

“You’ll do just fine,” Hank said reassuringly. “Atlanta’s a friendly city, and Georgia Tech’s a great school. You’ll meet people from all over the world.”

“I hope so,” Aparna murmured, her mind still processing everything.

When they arrived at the dormitory, Aparna felt a rush of nervous energy. The building was modern, with large glass windows and a spacious lobby. Students were milling about, some chatting with friends, others lugging their belongings inside, and a few, like her, looking lost and out of place.

Hank helped her carry her bags to her room on the third floor. It was a small but comfortable space, with a bed, a desk, a closet, and a window that overlooked the campus. Aparna stood in the middle of the room, her suitcase by her side, and took a deep breath. This was her new home, at least for the next few years.

“Well, I’ll leave you to get settled in,” Hank said, placing her bags by the bed. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. There’s an RA on every floor, and they’re here to help.”

“Thank you, Hank,” Aparna said, grateful for his kindness.

After he left, she sat on the edge of the bed, feeling a wave of emotions wash over her. She was excited, scared, lonely, and hopeful all at once. She thought about calling her parents, but it was late in Chennai, and they were likely asleep. Instead, she decided to unpack, hoping that the simple act of organizing her space would help calm her nerves.

As she folded her clothes and placed them in the closet, she noticed a small envelope tucked into the pocket of one of her sweaters. Curious, she pulled it out and opened it. Inside was a handwritten note from her mother.

Dear Aparna,

We are so proud of you for taking this big step. Remember that we are always with you in spirit, even if we are far away. Stay true to yourself, work hard, and know that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. We love you and miss you already.

Love, Amma and Appa.

Tears welled up in Aparna’s eyes as she read the note. She missed them so much already, but their words gave her strength. She carefully folded the note and placed it on her desk, a reminder of the love and support that was always with her, no matter the distance.

The first few days at Georgia Tech were a whirlwind. There were orientation sessions, campus tours, and a seemingly endless stream of new faces and names. Aparna found herself overwhelmed by the sheer diversity of people she encountered—students from all over the world, each with their own story, their own journey. It was both intimidating and exhilarating.

Classes began, and with them came the realization that the academic rigor was even greater than she had anticipated. The professors were brilliant, the coursework challenging, and the pace relentless. Aparna spent long hours in the library, pouring over textbooks and lecture notes, determined to keep up. She had always been a good student, but this was a new level of intensity.

Making friends proved to be more challenging than she had expected. While everyone was friendly, she struggled to find her place in this new environment. The cultural differences, the accents, and the different ways people interacted left her feeling out of sync. She missed the easy camaraderie of her friends back home, the shared language, and the unspoken understanding that came from growing up in the same place.

One evening, after a particularly long day of classes, Aparna decided to take a break and explore the city. She had heard about Piedmont Park, a large green space in the heart of Atlanta, and decided that some fresh air would do her good.

The park was beautiful, with sprawling lawns, tree-lined paths, and a large lake reflecting the evening sky. As she walked along the path, she felt a sense of peace that had been eluding her since she arrived. The park was filled with people—joggers, families, couples, and groups of friends—but for the first time, Aparna didn’t feel out of place. She was just another person in the crowd, enjoying the beauty of the moment.

As she sat on a bench overlooking the lake, she found herself thinking about Chennai. She missed the sound of the waves crashing on Marina Beach, the smell of spices wafting through the streets, and the warmth of the sun on her skin. But she also realized that this was her chance to create new memories, to explore new places, and to grow as a person.

Aparna pulled out her phone and took a picture of the sunset over the lake. It was a small thing, but it felt like a step forward, a moment of connection to her new surroundings. She sent the photo to her family with a simple message: *Missing you all, but I’m okay. Atlanta is beautiful.*

Almost immediately, her phone buzzed with replies. Her mother sent a string of heart emojis, her father replied with a “Proud of you!” and Arjun demanded to know when she was going to send him something cool from America. Aparna smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest that made her feel less alone.

As the weeks passed, Aparna slowly began to find her rhythm. She threw herself into her studies, joining a coding club on campus and meeting other students who shared her passion for technology. It was through this club that she met Leah, a sophomore from New York who quickly became her first close friend in Atlanta. From there, her social circle would only grow, even allowing her to meet a group of women who were members of a group called the Tamil Association.