When I think about growing up in Pakistan, one of the most beautiful aspects of my life there was living in community with others. Celebrations, moments of grieving, and all the daily mundane things that life brings became richer and more wholesome with the presence of communal living. Community when I was in Pakistan meant my big, beautiful family huddled around a full table at mealtimes exchanging laughs, poking fun at each other, exchanging updates – all while soaking in a warm comfort that we will always be there for each other.

Community looks different when you move away from home – it is a much more intentional cultivation of friendships and relationships that feel like home. Over time, our immediate community changes and evolves and while I deeply miss being in close proximity to my family, I am so grateful for the community I have cultivated and grown in this chapter of life. I have now started my own family and am laying down roots in my home away from home. I married my best friend and now he is family, and home is where he is. Home is love.