LIFE OF AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT

Life of an International Student

You tell your child.

“You are going abroad, get prepared.”

And you send them into the middle of nowhere.

In your eyes, it is the best opportunity you’d ever give them.

And You feel like the best parent in the world.

It is true to some extent but not true in others.

She, he, or whoever your child is,

Must face depression, mystery, and experience all forms of anxiety and pain.

It is not a curse. In fact,

Your child must cry themselves to sleep every single day.

The nights are the loneliest days if you do not know.

Yet, you are over there bragging about them.

It is not just about the education; it is the people in it.

Your child feels empty most times.

 And even when they share it with you, all you have to say is endure.

Afterall you will soon graduate and get a good job.

You think it is a land of opportunity, but in reality,

It is a land of limited opportunity. Only a few are at the top.

They come in as a student and are restricted and constrained by set of rules.

The government makes it worse by telling them to go back to their home country after completion of their studies.

Now, they are living in constant anxiety and fear.

They are not sure if the people back home will receive them and love them.

Or even understand their new perspective or way of life

At the same time, they do not want to waste the expensive degree or degrees they have acquired.

And if they are from a country like mine, I support their rationale.

The truth is that your child is in clash with culture shock, separation anxiety, and acceptance.

You do not know what they feel, and you will never know.

They make friends that make life worse sometimes.

Sometimes they are lucky to meet decent quality friends.

While some of them fall in love with someone that makes them feel your absence

Just a few of them meet their soulmates.

They must deal with all these emotions alone.

If you are not wealthy enough, leave your kids alone.

That uncle or aunt you are trusting your child or children with does not care.

You foolish fool!