The Meaning of Home for Me

La maison, casa, ghar, and bayt are all different ways on how to say the word home. When people think of the word home or a house, they usually think of four interconnected walls and a roof with fancy, luxurious furniture with unique and beautiful paintings and lots of space. Some might think right away of how many acres, bathrooms, trees, and floors their home has, but is that really what makes a home a home? What about what a home feels, sounds, and smells like? What about those sounds in your home coming from your siblings playing or fighting? What about that delicious aroma that lingers through the air when your mother cooks your favorite foods? What about that warm, tingling feeling when your father gives you a hug? Finally, what about hearing all the laughter and feeling all the love? This is what I think of when I hear the word home. My family and my sister are where my home is. Yes we may fight, yes we bicker but we also love and laugh and play in a place I call home. Without them, I wouldn’t understand the difference between a home and a house. Home is where I pray and celebrate Holi. Home is where we light Diyas and place Rangolis all around the house for Diwali. Home is where my sister and I wear our Indian clothes proudly and dance to the strong, catchy Indian songs. Home is where my mom cooks fresh and traditional Indian food everyday. Home is where my sister and I play with puzzles and dolls. Home is where my mom and dad teach me wise morals and life lessons so I can be a good person. Home is where I can play the violin and piano. Home is where I can just be me. Home is where I feel loved and safe. It is where my family works hard to protect me from the dangers of the world. Whether it be political conflicts or a bad thunderstorm, it is where my parents hug me and keep me safe. Home is a place where I can get proper drinking water, fresh foods, shelter and proper clothes! It is a place of safety and security, warmth and love, laughter and happiness. Home is where my grandparents moved so that my mom and uncle can grow up to be whatever they want to be, whether a girl or a boy. So that they can live in a democratic society and feel loved and safe wherever they go. Home is where girls and boys can stand side by side and not be treated differently. Everyone should feel this way, whether poor or rich, brown or white. Everyone should feel that a house is not a home without having the necessities of life. Everyone should have a home to protect themselves from the harsh winter and the hot, sunny days. Everyone should have the ability to have choices and freedom. Everyone should have a home where they can feel safe and loved. So why, why can’t this happen in real life? Why can't everyone have a home? Why can’t they have food and water to possess energy, a place of shelter so they can keep dry when it is raining outside and proper clothes for every season such as winter or spring! Whether an apartment, a bungalow or a house, everyone should feel safe, loved, happy, sad, joyful and important in their home! This is the meaning of home, not a house, but a home.