I think I’ve always carried this feeling of being out of place with me, like a quiet companion that shows up whenever I move. Growing up as an NRI (non-resident Indian), I’ve lived in different countries and states, never staying anywhere long enough to sink deep roots. It’s not that I can’t find comfort. I actually settle into new spaces pretty easily when they feel welcoming. But there’s always that initial period, those first few days or months, where everything feels off.
Moving has been a constant in my life. I moved recently, actually, and that familiar sense of displacement came back, softer this time, like meeting an old acquaintance. Each time I relocate, I go through this quiet adjustment period where I’m learning the rhythm of a new place, figuring out where I belong in it, and wondering how it really feels to be growing in one home for as long as possible.
