Home is not just a place where we live…It's greater than we think

My name is Erfan, and I was born in Afghanistan. My parents and grandparents were also born there. Afghanistan was my home. I lived in Kabul. Life in Kabul was not safe. There were many bombings and attacks. Schools, hospitals, and universities were not safe places. My mother was a teacher. One day, her school was attacked. Many girls were hurt, and some lost their lives. My mother was very scared and worried about us. I was only four or five years old, but I remember feeling afraid. When the Taliban took control of the country, life became even more dangerous. My father was working in Dubai, so we were alone. My mother hugged us and told us to pray that we could leave safely. Leaving Afghanistan was very hard. We had to go to Kabul International Airport, but the Taliban did not allow people to enter easily. For three days, my family stayed on a bus in very hot weather with no proper facilities. Later, my uncle Mohammad Naseer received a message from NATO. They helped us reach the airport. Finally, we left Afghanistan and traveled to Qatar, then Germany, and later Poland. We stayed in Poland for a few months. It was the first place where I felt safe. One day, my mother told us that Canada accepted us. At that time, I was sick with a fever and chickenpox, but my mother took good care of me. After we received our visas, we came to Canada on December 11, 2021. My journey from Afghanistan to Canada was very difficult and it helped me to understand the true meaning of home. Afghanistan is my mother land, safety and peace are what matter most to me. Canada gave my family a new beginning and it's the place where I feel safe, happy and hopeful for the amazing future.