Stories

How I Know I’m Home

There’s no place like it.

We go to some of the most remote and hard-to-reach locations in the world serve communities affected by crises. Our dedicated colleagues leave their homes and their loved ones and go there too.

Have you ever noticed that when you return from a trip, there’s that moment when you say ‘Ahhh. I’m home’? Is it the food, the people, or the pets?  Our Medair team shared their ‘I’m home’ moments – after living in several places, sometimes home is far away from the place shown on their passport!

I know I’m home when I get to pick the right spices, grind them, and make some tasty pilau (a Swahili dish of fried rice and beef or chicken). Oh! And when I wake up to the sound of the cake mixer – my dad makes the best pancakes! – Verozian, Kenya; currently working in South Sudan

I know I’m home when I meet my wife and children. My son runs up to me and gives me a big hug, and I play with the kids. – Mohammed, Somalia; currently working in Somalia.

I know I’m home when my family gathers around my mom’s cooking, talking about great future plans! And we can have tarte flambée evenings and Maggi sauce again, and when I get my plants and my piano back. – Marie, Alsace France; currently working in Lebanon.

I know I’m home when I get to hug my family and cuddle with cats. At the very best, I get to cuddle with the kiddos and the kitties at the same time! – Rachel, USA; currently working in Bangladesh

I know I’m home when I can see my daughter’s smile, perfectionism, and calm posture when she is drawing. She likes it so much! – Njaka, Madagascar; currently works in Madagascar

I know I’m home when my dog is constantly in my lap or in my bed, I can have long walks with him, kids are shouting outside the window, and I can have coffee with milk in bed every morning. – Ewa, Poland; currently working in South Sudan.

After a long time away, being home is an opportunity to spend time with families and children.

I know I’m home when I can find my messy stuff and play music loudly! – Marie-Ange, Madagascar; currently working in Madagascar

I know I’m home when an entourage of animals follows me into every room, ready for constant snuggles, pets, and attention in general. Oh, and I cry when I see Cheez-Its – the best American snickity-snack. – Amy, USA; currently working in South Sudan

I know I’m home when I’m sitting on the sofa surrounded by family with a cup of proper English tea in my hands, I have to wear jumpers again, and I get to walk in leafy woodland and wear gum boots for muddy walks. – Rosie, UK; currently working in South Sudan

I know I’m home when making a cup of tea becomes the answer to every problem. – Alex, UK; currently working in Lebanon.

I know I’m home when I can take my stand-up paddleboard down to the lake and go paddle. – Evelyn, Switzerland; currently working in Madagascar

I know I’m home when I start riding my bike and I notice all the unique scenery. – Abdul, Curaçao, Netherlands, and Lebanon; currently working in Lebanon.

After a long period of time away from home, being back often means getting to eat favourite foods with favourite people!

I know I’m home when I can see the neighbourhood that I grew up in, and when I can purchase Kishra, a thin Sudanese bread, and when I can find local ingredients to be able to cook at home. – Jimmy, South Sudan; currently working in Sudan

I know I’m home when I have very few responsibilities and lots of sleep are the order of the day. – Jessica, USA; currently working in Lebanon.

I know I’m home when I can smell my mom’s amazing food, and when I get to sleep in my nice, comfy mattress! – Sharon, Taiwan; currently working in the Democratic Republic of Congo

I know I’m home when I walk through the front door of the house in each place and can hear all the sounds and smell all of the smells I associate with each home. – Tania, USA, Barbados, and Lebanon; currently working in Lebanon

I know I’m home when I get to stop at Pizza Inn to buy pizza for my daughters. The look and hugs from my girls when they realise that Daddy just came back! Priceless. A place and moment I wish to be in forever, but we have to answer to the call of service. – Jeremiah, Kenya; currently working in South Sudan

Our teams in action, answering the call of service

 


 

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.

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