Meaning of Home

What home to me isn’t ordinary because it’s where my family is. Now, I don’t want to be repetitive like everybody else and say something that everyone says, but I also want to be true. So I’ll start with myself so you can get to know me before you read my writing. I’m Edrin from Tirana, Albania, the main capital. It’s where I used to live. It’s an amazing place and has a lot to offer, like high mountains and little bakeries for bread and other things. It’s not as easy as going to Walmart and getting your groceries. It’s a truly authentic experience. Sure, there are convenience stores, but the good Albanian bread and Mediterranean food are really great. Also, it’s more “warm.” What I mean by that is that here in Canada the atmosphere is different. There, it feels like the world hugs you in the morning and afternoon. I love the family I have there: my aunt, my grandparents, and my cousins. It’s a very small country with nice landscapes and one of the oldest languages in the Balkans. It’s a truly amazing place. I love my family there. What home means to me is not just that. It’s the smell of my mom’s cooking or my Grandma’s Byrek and the feasts we have. I love that so much, and it has a special place in my heart. One more story: my sister, who lives with me now. When we still lived there, she got a stuffed cub/bear for Christmas. She saw how much I wanted it and gave it to me. I still have it to this day, and I can’t sleep without it. I think Habitat for Humanity is an amazing opportunity for people who can’t experience this. Thank you.