Written on 8th November, 2020:
“I realized about two weeks ago that the UK is confirmed to be going forward with the Graduate Visa Route starting 2021. And you can apply to ANY job at ANY company with ANY salary, for two years. Like, WOAH. I would LOVE to live in Edinburgh.
I feel like a bright light lit up in me that night, the last night I slept in Aunty Nor’s house (to get my remaining boxes to move to Edinburgh). And the next morning I arrived at the Scottish borders by car.
We (me and Uncle Abrahim) drove past the “WELCOME TO SCOTLAND” sign. On my left there were the hills full of trees with their brilliant autumn leaves, on my right was the sparkling blue ocean, the sun was just rising and shining its golden hour glow on everything. The car then drove through a FULL RAINBOW. I felt like I was in a coming-of-age movie and this was my /MOMENT/ y’know???”
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Well… one year three months later, I got my Graduate Visa. My heart skipped a beat seeing the email in my inbox (and it didn’t go to my “Primary” folder… *rolls eyes* it’s a good thing I didn’t miss it!). At first I was over the moon, for the first 30 minutes or so. And then I cried a bit. Thinking of all the weddings and funerals I’d be missing. All the cousins I wouldn’t get to watch grow up. And it’s not obviously noticeable how much your parents’ hair have turned gray through a computer or phone screen – it’s easy to not notice how quickly they’re aging.
It’s a big decision, a huge commitment – choosing to leave your homeland and migrate elsewhere. Although really, I made the decision a long time ago.
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