So it has been already more than a month since I landed back in my beautiful country.
I have to say that it has been easier than I thought until now. Coming back and readjusting to my life in Quebec wasn't too challenging after all.
What surprised me when I first came back is how natural it was with everyone I knew. I was expecting some confusion and awkwardness when I would meet my family and friends after one year away. However, it just felt like if I've seen them all one week before. I did cry when I met most of the people I'm closed with, but it came back to normal so quickly. Nobody had changed, and I realize that I didn't change much too. I saw a lot of things, learned so much and opened my mind to the world, but I stayed the same girl. I'm still that teenager or young adult who sometimes cannot stop laughing about something she's alone to understand, who likes to solve complicated maths problems, who can sleep 14 hours a day if she has nothing to do, who loves to do sports, who talks too much sometimes, who's so gawky, who enjoys party all night with her friends when the time is right and who doesn't have any clear idea about her future. I might have gained some maturity, but I still recognize myself in everything of this.
After one month, I feel pretty much re-adapted to my country. I see my friends, I do activities, I go out. I'll start college in 12 days and come back into the predefined routine most people try to follow. It's not a bad thing. I'll finally stop to be lazy and start to work a bit harder at school.
The first few weeks, everything was so amazing and I enjoyed good times with my family and friends. I was in my happy bubble and nothing could burst it, except the time. After a while, when everything came back to normal life, just like if nothing had happened, I started to remember and miss Malaysia a little bit. Not enough to hurt me still.
I remember how it had been hard to leave this South-East Asian country. I cried so much during the last days. I've been sad all the way to Hong Kong International Airport. And then, something happened: I went to washroom. When I entered the cabin, I smiled while noticing how clean it was. The floor was dry, I had a toilet to sit on and there was toilet paper placed for me. That's how I realized how cool it was to come back home. At that precise moment, I stopped being sad and I started to look forward to reach Montreal. Since I'm back, I enjoy more all the things we got here. I feel lucky to be born in North America. We might have often cold weather, but it feels great to not always being sweaty. We might not have 2$ a meal restaurants, but we can enjoy numerous types of cheese at price we can afford. We are really comfortable here and there's lots of things we can enjoy that others don't have the chance to have.
What will happens next, I don't know, but it doesn't matter. I will start studying pure science in college while continuing badminton training and we'll see how it goes. Whatever is going to happen, I know one thing: I will definitely travel a lot. I love the world and all it has to offer. More we know, more we realize how little we know.There's still so much to discover.
Until next time,
Alice
 |
| Good time at the beach, with my aunt, my uncle, my father, my grandmother and my stepmother. |
 |
| Rediscovering Québec city with my aunts! |
 |
| A «Tree to tree» activity with my father and my stepmother. |
 |
| Trying wake-board for the first time. |
 |
| Enjoying summer with family. My stepfather, his daughter and my brother on the picture. |
 |
| AFS Returnees Dinner, with Fred who went to Austria, Alice-Marie and Genevieve who both went to Spain. |
 |
| On top of a mountain with my beautiful mother. My stepfather and my brother climbed with us. |
