Home is where the heart is

In eleven short days I’m going ‘home’ for the first time in a year. Home, however, is a relative term for me. I am returning to the place I was born, the place where my father owns a house and I have very many memories and good friends. The place I’ve lived for the majority of my life, however sporadically, and where I attended and graduated high school. But does that make it home?

I’m leaving a place where I have never officially lived, but have been visiting for three years now. I have friends, many friends who I am very close with despite never actually living here. This is a place I feel comfortable, a place where I also have many memories, a place where my mother has an apartment. I feel at home here.

I recently left Italy where I lived and studied for the past year. I had four different apartments while I was there which I shared with different people each time. I lived in four different cities. I am not fluent in Italian and never felt I truly fit in as it is obvious that I am not a local, though I loved my time there and will always have a place in my heart for those cities. Italy gave me great memories. I felt at home there.

I’ve lived in four different places in my life.

In a few months I will be moving, yet again, to a new place. I will be starting over. I have visited this place once and have never seen the student housing I will be living in by myself. If everything goes according to plan I will be living in this place for four years.

Property does not make a home. Time does not make a home (though it does make it easier). Language does not make a home.
Friends and family make a home. Memories make a home. Love makes a home. You make your home.
If you want to you will feel at home. If you try to you will feel at home. If you make the effort and see the positives in a place, if you learn to love it you will call it home. This is something I have learnt from experience. No matter how long (or short) you live there, no matter who lives there with you, no matter why you live there. Call it home and it will become one.