Make abroad your new home

Hopping on a plan at 7pm, surrounded by family to start a new life can be nothing short of daunting.

Welcome to my travel diary and let me introduce you to my home.

For all of those who are not aware of Mumbai, it is a city in India and is often known as the financial capital of the country. Home to more than 18 million dreamers, the city is my birthplace.

With an overwhelming feeling and a heavy heart, I moved away from my home to Toronto in August 2019 to commence a part of my life which I was aware was going to be tough yet so fruitful.

I certainly left a big part – 23 years of my life – to start a new phase in a different country in hunger for growth.

This blog post is not merely my journey but also what it feels like to move the country and begin from scratch.

Starting from the therapeutic sound of the beach waves to the hustle and bustle of public transport; the city offers something to everyone.

People say that the city never sleeps and it’s a paradise for dreamers and I have witnessed it myself. I have friends and family who made the hopeful move to Mumbai from their home city and today refuse to go back. Mumbai has become their home now.

The feeling of starting over your life – solo – is surreal. You have no idea what life is going to throw at you or the ways you will tackles those hurdles and situations.

As an immigrant, figuring your way out in a strange land can be intimidating. Fortunately for me, Toronto is a diverse land with a melting pot of cultures that contribute to the diversity of the city.

The first day that I arrived in the city, my first task for the day was to go grocery shopping. That’s the primary on everyone’s list. Food is a necessity and being exposed to a variety of food options was confusing, to say the least.

When you are moving to another country, there are parts of you that you mold; habits even. You learn to step out of your comfort zone; you learn new languages and learn to talk to people whose experience you can learn from.

Being a student is already not an easy path to walk on but his journey has given me a global perspective which will be invaluable all my life. Do I even need to stress the number of opportunities that life presents you with your move to another country? You can explore, dive into working hard to make your dreams come true and build camaraderie with like-minded people along the way. (If you’ve like to explore Toronto, be sure to read my blog post on activities you can do in the city).

A coin always has two sides; I have spoken about the pros, it would only be fair to mention the cons. The biggest one is to be away from friends and family that you may have spent years with and deeply rely on. The feeling of being alone could often get overwhelming in situations where you see no apparent way out. In such situations, it is wise to take a deep breath and preferably talk to those you trust.

I have undergone both the pros and cons, and I would like to say that the pros often outweigh the cons and we are all strong and pull it through, no matter what the situation.

If you are a student or an immigrant, I hope this blog post gives you nothing but hope.