Home Away from Home:
The Reality of Hostel Life
“Home” is a place that feels like a tight hug. A place where you are always
welcome and surrounded by those who love you; where time stands still for just
a moment, where the noise of the outside world is blocked out and where you can
breathe it all out, enjoy being tense all day.
Such a beautiful place surrounded by peace and warmth, though I had everything
there until the day arrived, I left my home for higher studies and didn’t
realize it was the last day I truly lived there. No matter how often I returned
for holidays, it was never the same.
As a person who spent almost 6 years and is still staying at a hostel, I know
exactly how it feels to be at hostel and home . “Hostel”, it sounds
intimidating and cruel. Especially to me, a child who never dreamed of leaving
my parents’ embrace. I still remember my first day at the hostel and the
realization that hit me after my parents left. The void that was created in my
heart at that moment - It felt like an invisible cage.
It’s funny when you leave your home and wander really far, you always think, ‘I
want to go home!’ But then you come home, and of course it’s not the same.
Although it was scary it became my second home. It taught me how to survive
tough, my toughest battles without any warm hug from parents. After all, it
wasn’t so bad. I got a chance to connect with others deeply. I got a chance to
make lots of friends. Friends became more like siblings who were always there
for me. Late night talks were my best moments and still sometimes I crave it.
It was a place where a group of strangers met and transformed into a beautiful
family.
