Home
The definition of home differs between
nations worldwide. Each country has its own way of looking at and defining
home. They differ because of many reasons such as climate, customs, traditions,
religions and history as they vary from one country to the other, thus, each of
these factors shape home in a different way. But in spite of all these
differences, home is the main contributor to our identity through many factors
such as safety, connection to the family, and the ability to express ourselves
freely.
A home provides safety for each
individual and is the most important thing in life that makes us have a home. We
should not live in place that has improper living conditions like wrong
electricity wiring, unhealthy or dirty surrounding environment, or a place with
no medical kit. In the article There Are
No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz “The Family and their thirteen children,
including three sets of twins, had been living in a spacious five-bedroom
apartment, but the coal-heated flat got so cold in the winter that the pipes
frequently froze”. As a result, they had to move out because it was too risky
for them to stay there. We also cannot live in places with complete strangers whom
we do not trust, or with someone who might hurt us or betray us in our homes.
Living safe in our home teaches us being aware when we grow up. It teaches us what
to look out for and how to avoid dangerous situations in the future. When I was
young, I remember my mother always telling me not to drive my bicycle in the
street or warning me not to open the door to strangers or not to give out
personal information over the phone. This always made me feel safe and her
instructions are now helping me while living by myself in California.
In Kuwait and other countries in the
Middle East, home is where the parents are. Children live with their families
until they grow up and get married and have the potential to start their own
homes. Due to the bond, some go and live somewhere else nearby their family’ houses
while others prefer getting married and living with their family under the same
roof. A family visit is something compulsory in the Arab countries. Such visits
are done at least once a week to ensure that individuals feel at home not only
in our house, but in every family member’s house due to the constant visits. It
is a great tradition because it keeps everyone updated with the latest family
news, and also keeps the bond with the family strong.
Home isn’t necessarily a physical
structure, home is different to everyone. Some people consider other people
their home. Others believe that their whole neighborhood is their home. In The Barrio by Robert Ramirez “Members of
the barrio describe the entire area as their home, it is a home, but it’s more
than this.” For them, they considered the whole barrio to be their home. To me,
home is where my mother is because I’m used to waking up every day and seeing
my mom cooking, cleaning or having a conversation with her friends whom she
always invite. This is something I figured out when I moved from my country
Kuwait to the United States. As days passed in my new apartment in America, I
thought: “This is my apartment, but I don’t feel at home because mom is not
here”. Another great tradition we have in Kuwait is, during meal times,
everyone gathers around the dining table but no one touches the food unless the
father is sitting at the table. If he is not around, they will wait for him to
come back home, and then start eating. These situations are the traditions that
we grow up with, the traditions that later become a big part of our identity.
Home teaches us the ability to express
ourselves freely. Unlike being in places where we have to act according to
certain rules or obey certain orders, in our home we can wear whatever we want,
do whatever we want and act however we see fit without trying to impress anyone
and without following any rules. Another aspect of expressing ourselves freely
is designing our house the way we want and according to our lifestyle. For
example, we are free to choose between a Toshiba TV or a Samsung TV and putting
it anywhere we want. Or for example, we can get a dog and put it in the
backyard, or get a cat. In the end, it is our house, our choice, and our
ability to express ourselves freely without restraint. This surely exemplifies
our identity because when people visit our house, they will know who we are,
what our culture is and where we come from. It contributes to our identity by
teaching us our traditions and culture and that we should stick to them. And
later in life it helps us remember who we are, what our culture is and where we
come from.
Finally, the perception of home varies
between people and not everyone concur to these factors. Some people have
different factors that contribute towards their identity. And every person has
their own perspective of home and what it means to them. But in the end, and in
spite of all these differences, home remains a very significant factor to our
identity and who we are and what we become in the future. It makes us who we
are today and it helps us remember who we are where we come from, and it’s a
great guide for us through life and the daily situations we face. Without home,
a big part of our identity will be missing.
Works cited
Kotlowitz, Alex. There Are No Children Here: The
Story of Two Boys Growing up in the Other America. New York: Doubleday,
1991. Print.
Ramirez, Robert. "The Barrio." The Barrio (n.d.): 317-20. Print.
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