The Layers of Home

It is a strange, mystical thing that one word can hold the weight of multiple definitions. It can be a physical place where one seeks sanctuary and security. For another, it can be a feeling of comfort and a sense of belonging. That word is “Home”. For me, home is not a place made from concrete walls and a roof covering the top of my head; it is the joyous laughter of my friends, the quiet exhale and calm atmosphere of my house, and the savory aroma of food my grandmother cooks daily.

Home has a voice, and it is a place of comfort and inclusion. It is a place where I can wear an array of clothes or pajamas with various color combinations without judgment. It has the sound of a joke shared with friends until our ribs ache and we are grinning from ear to ear. In those moments, 'home' isn't a building. I do not need to fear judgment or condescension, and people welcome me as exactly who I am without a mask.

Home is a place of tranquility and security. A step into my house, the chaos and cacophony seem to fade. My parents were waiting for me at home. I embraced them into my arms, and the world instantly softened. It is my sanctuary where volatility does not matter, and a corner where I can sleep without an eye opening, knowing the walls around me are my shield.

Home provides me a sense of belonging. It is the feeling of being wrapped in layers of woven fabric that have seen years of use, a physical embrace that mirrors the love and glee tucked away in my heart. It is a place where I finally belong. Memories are forged here, love transcends all barriers, and I am accepted by the people around me.

Refugees have been forced to flee with little more than the clothes on their backs, leaving behind their homes, possessions, jobs and loved ones. However, home is a feeling, and it will always lie deep in the heart. It is a portable charger that propels them forward in hoping and praying to live a better life one day. Maybe we are just lucky, maybe life is unfair, maybe it is the impulsive actions of world leaders. Nevertheless, their grit and immense determination never failed to prove that home can be rebuilt through the strong bonds of a new community and the memories that no one can take away.

-Li Xin Yi