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1/ Thread: Adios, America
Circa 1920, my grandpa was born in rural Bangladesh. Of course, there was no Bangladesh back then. It was still part of the British Empire.
~30 years later, the land he was born became part of Pakistan. Two and half decades later, it became Bangladesh.
Circa 1920, my grandpa was born in rural Bangladesh. Of course, there was no Bangladesh back then. It was still part of the British Empire.
~30 years later, the land he was born became part of Pakistan. Two and half decades later, it became Bangladesh.
2/ Even though the tumultuous history of the land evolved, my illiterate farmer grandpa never moved from his village. He toiled long and hard throughout his life.
He died peacefully in 2000 in the very village he was born.
He died peacefully in 2000 in the very village he was born.
3/ I too was born in rural Bangladesh, but moved with my parents in the nearby city when I was still a toddler.
During my late-teens, I came to Dhaka, the Capital of Bangladesh. As a first gen college grad, Dhaka seemed somewhat foreign in the first few months.
During my late-teens, I came to Dhaka, the Capital of Bangladesh. As a first gen college grad, Dhaka seemed somewhat foreign in the first few months.
4/ But Dhaka also has a capacity to evoke Stockholm syndrome in you. Despite the traffic and mind numbing density, Dhaka can grow in you once you live there for a few years.
After living in Dhaka for almost a decade, I then moved to the US.
After living in Dhaka for almost a decade, I then moved to the US.
5/ Despite the uncertainty for international students/foreign nationals, let me tell you America remains a land of opportunity.
For every person who had to leave the US for immigration reasons, I know 20 people who came here and completely transformed their lives for the better
For every person who had to leave the US for immigration reasons, I know 20 people who came here and completely transformed their lives for the better
6/ America's entrepreneurial spirit will remain envy of the world for decades to come.
Perhaps no other country will ever be able to match its commitment to freedom of expression.
I also found most Americans exceptionally kind. And of course, it is one BEAUTIFUL country.
Perhaps no other country will ever be able to match its commitment to freedom of expression.
I also found most Americans exceptionally kind. And of course, it is one BEAUTIFUL country.
7/ I joked with my friends that it's no wonder that Americans are so patriotic.
While there is certainly a sense of sadness for leaving this country, I will take the memories with me, and will take every opportunity to visit the US. Who knows, I may even come back permanently.
While there is certainly a sense of sadness for leaving this country, I will take the memories with me, and will take every opportunity to visit the US. Who knows, I may even come back permanently.
End/ Look forward to traveling tomorrow to my new home and getting to know yet another place (after two weeks of quarantine): Ottawa.
O Canada.
O Canada.
