2017 Sep 28
Stage 1: The Initial Excitement
Hooray you got into the university of your (or your parents’) dreams! You’re not just happy; you’re all those cheesy phrases of being on top of the world, over the moon, and shooting for the stars combined. Your best friend didn’t get into college? “Oh girl, I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine what you’re feeling….” Yup, you really can’t because you are just too buzzed with your own joy right now. This… is your moment! So just kick back and enjoy boys and girls! Since your best friend won’t be joining you, just get on YouTube and play yourself Queen’s ‘ We are the champions’ song.
Stage 2: The Shopping
This one’s for all you shopaholics! University shopping consists of three main areas; clothes, stationary and food! Ladies, your brain is about to come up with all sorts of reasons to buy just one more coat. “I’ve got pink, blue, and violet and sea green… hmm well obviously I need three more for the rest of the week right?” Secondly, we have the stationary. Honestly, you know you’re not just going to pick a normal highlighter. You’re going to pick the scented ones where the red highlighter smells like Apples! (The corporations have got you fooled my friend..) And finally, the universally appealing item; Food! Most of us tend to forget that the countries we are heading off to are not suffering from famine. Maggie, spices, kaju and all sorts of badum are going to be stuffed into your luggage. Yup, you might have a few things to claim at customs.
(Disclaimer: Reader if you’re a boy, don’t get offended. We know you don’t shop as much. Three pens and a few sweaters is probably sufficient to make you happy)
Stage 3: The Stress
The days on cloud nine are starting to fade. As the fun time passes, you need to start actually doing some work. For instance, getting your visa. If you’re going to UK or Aussie, this process involves a whole load of harassments. First up, you need to get vaccinated and we all know that isn’t fun. As the nurse pokes you with needles, expect to wonder why you couldn’t just study at a local uni. Additionally, you’ll also have to spend some agonizing days wondering whether you have been cursed with tuberculosis (Yup, the UK requires you get checked for that!) Don’t worry, all you can do is start early and pray hard for no terminal illnesses.
Stage 4: The Doubt
Here’s when the trouble starts. “Gosh, I have to learn how to cook for myself!!”, “What if I go bankrupt in a month?”, “What if I miss my parents?!?”. Do not be surprised if you have these thoughts lingering in your mind as the date to your departure draws near. I mean for about 17-19 years, you’ve been blessed with kind parents who waited on your hand and foot. You never had to do the laundry, cook, shop for groceries or handle the finances and now… well now, you have to do all of that PLUS studying! It’s really starting to sound like you’re doomed…. Try Googling some sappy inspirational quotes! Here’s a real thinker: “If you were able to believe in Santa Claus for like 8 years, you can believe in yourself for at least 5 minutes!”
Stage 5: The Goodbyes
The day is finally here! So get ready for those overly dramatic Hindi movie scenes to take place. As your driver struggles and sweats to load your luggage into the car (it’s all those coats!), your parents will scream for the 100th time to make sure you have everything. “If you leave your retainer behind, don’t complain if you come home looking like rabbit! I will not pay for braces again.” When you reach the airport, your Amma will no doubt be sobbing her heart out, while Thaththa will most probably settle for an awkward handshake and wish you good luck. After all those years you spent complaining about your family… You never thought it would be this hard to leave right?
Stage 6: The Recovery
So maybe you will spend a good amount of your flight crying that you miss home. Maybe your first night at your accommodation is terrible with all the jetlag and noisy neighbors. No, don’t try to jump out the window just yet! Despite how bad it seems, you’re definitely going to pull through. Pretty soon you’ll find yourself trying out new food and posting it on Instagram. You’ll make friends and party hard. Oh and of course, you’ll be loaded with so much work that you won’t have much time to miss home. However, every once in a while, you will long for your family, your driver, the food and the pampering. That’s normal. Just do your best to remind yourself that you’ll be back in Sri Lanka in no time. Plus, with Skype, WhatsApp, Viber and Facebook, home is never too far away!
