Kuwait welcomed me. With arms open and filled with a mother’s love. A 8 year old me didn’t think much of it. Looking back I realize, there was an ample lot of things that could have gone awry. But my miraculous luck blew my side. I had absolutely no starting trouble when it came to socializing in school. I aced all curricular activities and actually built myself a very good reputation. None of which I had predicted let alone expected. Kuwait felt like the most perfect ambience for me.

My friends were amicable, my teachers cared a lot, I was able to give my best performance. What more can a child wish for? Well, my little heart wanted companions outside academic ground. And I was granted what I wished for. Friends who kept me company even after they moved out of Kuwait. I didn't just make emotional bonds with them, I was gifted with belongingness. But even then, I felt, rather contradictory to my previous statements, quite out of place when it came to peers at school. Not everyone immediately took a liking to me. And that was to be expected. It settled down over time. At 12, I have the best friends ever, soul sisters so to speak. A support system that never made me feel alone in times of need. And when I feel lonely, I call my friends and the sense of loneliness and emptiness vanishes into thin air, not leaving a trace behind. But of course, now I understand the importance of truly embracing your culture and accepting yourself for who you are.

Although accepting myself and my culture has been a journey, I owe it to my parents and other role models who continue to inspire me and help. Looking back on it, I was foolish to think that I had to change myself in order to fit in. No one has to “fit in” if you don’t find yourself belonging somewhere, wait. That’s what I learned waiting for some time will lead to the best of the best.