Meaning of Home

What is the meaning of home? This is a difficult question, because home carries so many emotions, positive and negative. A home doesn’t have to be a house, it could be a garden, an island, or even a country. My home is a city: Shanghai, China. Shanghai feels like an old friend to me, previous school, City God Temple, and The Bund. It's not just the location, but also the aroma of the xiaolongbao and the laughter in the alleyways. These are my memories. This is not just a place that I live, but also a place that makes me feel at ease and safe, where I belong. I experienced the death of my grandfather, I experienced my friend transferring schools. I have experienced joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. These emotions make me very attached to this place. For the past 7 years, I’ve spent some time at my grandparents’ house every summer. I’ve been there many times, but I still feel a sense of unfamiliarity. However, even though I only go back to Shanghai once a year, it feels like I never left. A home is not about how long you live there, but about the accumulation of emotions. There’s a Chinese saying, “Fallen leaves return to their roots.” This is the sense of belonging and the cultural beliefs of the Chinese people. After writing this article, I finally understood my heart. Home is where I was shaped. I deeply love my country, my city, and the true self I am. Never give up your longing for home. – Emma Song. 宋懿诺