Being Human, Flashbacks, Health, Travels

Away From The Core

The last time my nuclear family of six were all together was 12 years ago in the US. We were there for my sister’s wedding reception. In 2017, my parents came for a visit, after their European river cruise. It was also the year which my sister and I were on the same continent. Same goes for my youngest brother, which I had at hugging distance three years ago. I have not seen my other younger brother and his family since 2015. And frankly, I have no issues with being apart from the core family…

You see, I left home at the age of 19 to attend upper secondary school. A level of education my home town, Lahad Datu, did not have at that time. By the time I left Malaysia for my university education in Michigan, I have already struggled through and have gotten immuned to the pain of homesickness and being physically apart from my family for an undetermined length of time.

After some initial sufferings, you will start to reach out to other people and practices, form a new group, clan or habits; you will toughen up and simply carry on with life. That was how I dealt with it. That was how I survived the four major moves in my life, being torn further and further away from the core. Most people can survive separations. The fortunate few will even take root and flourish. I guess this is how world citizens are made?!

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