as you already know, i packed up all my luggage and left my cozy room behind, moving to a new place that makes getting to school easier. and i also said goodbye to this cozy home, where so many amazing people became parts of my life, parts of an unforgettable chapter in my study abroad journey.
i love all the people here. it’s truly an honour to have cô Hằng and chú Paul as my landlords. they’ve always been there for me, no matter what. auntie Hang has incredible skills in the kitchen- I’ve always thought she could be a winner for Master Chef. her food is amazing, filled with authentic Vietnamese flavour, even though she wasn’t born and raised in Vietnam. auntie Hang and uncle Paul have such big hearts for everyone. they can never say no to anyone. if they can help, they pour their heart into it. if someone needs them, they will be there – no hesitation. it makes me wonder how i can ever become a generous person like them.
uncle Paul loves music. he’s seriously a one-man band. guitarist, electric guitarist, or even singer, you might catch him doing all of these in a single day. Bean, their dog, loves the rhythm of his acoustic guitar but absolutely hates it when he turns on the speaker for the electric guitar. honestly, i think most of the families feel the same way, lol. but i love how “showbiz” he’s become after retiring. it really shows that when you’re doing what you love, you never get bored.
this cozy home – the place where i could always find the amazing food i craved while studying abroad, but also dishes i had never tried before, simply because i didn’t think i’d like them at first.
and this cozy home has Bean. a pomeranian, born under the Leo sign, white, small, noisy, but incredibly sentimental. that’s Bean. i have never had a dog in my house before, so having Bean around was a completely new experience for me. now that I’ve moved out, i miss the feeling of someone waiting for me at the door, wagging their tail, happy just to see me. Bean loves chicken breast. if you feed him just once, you’ve officially become his friend. that’s probably why he loves me – I’m the apple provider, a sneak-treat giver, and the backup mom when auntie Hang and uncle Paul aren’t home. Bean doesn’t really know any tricks. well, he understands “sit,” especially when there’s food involved. the moment he sees a treat, he lies down, wags his tail, gives you that big smile, and waits patiently (okay…sometimes not so patiently). when you adopt an animal, you’re also preparing your heart for the moment they’re no longer there – when they decide to find other places to go, to play, and to brighten someone else’s life. Bean’s getting older now. he’s no longer the innocent dog who barked at me like a stranger the first time i showed up with my heavy luggage. but no matter what, you’re truly the best dog i’ve ever known, Bean. stay healthy, and I’ll come visit every chance i get.
sometimes i wonder if i’ll remember what the kitchen, the living room, or even the garden in that cozy home looked like. but what i do remember – what i’ll never forget – are the amazing people who made it feel like home. it was a comforting space for me, a place that marked my first milestone on this tough journey. a place where meaningful relationships were built, where memories became lasting, and a place i know i can always return to – just by asking.
it will always feel like home to me. my small, healing corner of the world. and the place where i’d happily take an hour-long train ride, just to get groceries with auntie Hang and chi Tam!