Although our time together so far has been limited, these connections help me feel grounded in my new home. I have also come to deeply value minute interactions. Seeing the same people day in and day out serves as a form of self-actualization in a new place. These are the familiar faces that I see regularly but whose relationships never extend outside of their limited capacity. They are bearing witness to the fact that I am building a life here. For example, every night the owner of the dukaan (small shop) near my house sees me coming home and grabbing a snack. Although we have never spoken beyond the price of his goods, I like to imagine a solidarity between us. He knows nothing about me, but he knows that I live here. While finding my footing here, I've found such unceremonious connections profoundly meaningful. Day to day, there are so many people I interact with. I am so endlessly grateful for the presence of these individuals. All of the experiences I'm having are only possible because of the support I've found from them. But each night, I alone have the responsibility of making sense of this very unique experience. No one else is in my shoes, and only I have the ability to articulate my feelings. I often wonder, does the growth that comes from being in a new place outweigh being separated from my family and friends for a year? Is it worth intense periods of loneliness and hardship for the possibilities that lie on the other side? I don't have any solid answers, but I know that so many of the best moments of my life have come from pushing through challenges. I know that putting myself out there has led to growth I previously never could have even imagined.
