How to Make a Home in a Foreign Land

A list of material objects

Making a home in a new place is not easy.

But I packed my suitcases to the brim,

Filled them with material memorabilia from home.

A Naga shawl that my dad’s roommate’s mom had gifted Dad,

(decades ago)

Now helps me ward off the cold of winter.

My nani’s pink triangular-crocheted shawl from Kuwait

Serves as a trendy fashion statement.

My sister’s friend’s art fills my life with joy,

Bursts of colour every time I sit at my desk.

There’s a little idol of the goddess Saraswati on my windowsill

A gift from my parents, some ten years ago,

It has joined me in moving halfway across the country.

Then I added another companion to it.

This time Lakshmi, because I certainly would love

Some financial blessings.

A mini handmade reed cover from Assam

Serves as a cool decorative item on my table.

And the curtains and the tablecloth I stitched out of two pieces of cloth

(thanks to the handwork classes in my convent school)

Bring some amount of uniformity to my room.

Huge stacks of books lying on about every surface,

Often give me the urge to study and not laze about.

A cute little crocheted Totoro toy reminds me of the joy in Nature,

While also ensuring I keep in touch with my inner child.

All of this to say, it is not easy to make a home in a distant land,

Away from family and all alone for the first time.

But family and friends (both old and new)

Know how to slowly creep in, and make space on your cramped shelves.

That is to say, the memories stay on.

But only if you pack carefully, thoughtfully.

Each item, a remnant of all that had been experienced by the previous owner,

And full of love, for you.

Nayanika Saikia graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and was also a Dean’s List student. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree and is also a Booktuber and Bookstagrammer. She can often be found on her Instagram account Pretty Little Bibliophile. You can support me by Buying Me a Coffee.