Afrin Shama Jannatul stepped into the humid Malaysian air, a stark contrast to her Saudi Arabian home. The scent of unfamiliar spices, the sounds of bustling streets, and the cacophony of motorcycles were a world away from the comforting aroma of her mother’s kitchen. She had come to Malaysia seeking adventure and a coveted psychology degree from SEGi, but the reality of being alone in a foreign land, thousands of miles from her family, weighed heavily on her.
Navigating a New World
Though greeted by friendly faces at the airport, the challenge of navigating a new culture was daunting. Everything felt different – the food, the language, the customs. Simple errands like grocery shopping or using public transportation became overwhelming hurdles.
And just as she began to find her feet, the world was plunged into a COVID-19 lockdown. The isolating silence of empty streets only intensified Afrin’s longing for home. “It felt like another door closing, another escape route blocked,” she confessed, her voice tinged with wistful sadness. Basketball, her refuge, became another casualty of the pandemic.
Full article at: https://colleges.segi.edu.my/subangjaya/from-the-middle-east-to-malaysia-a-home-away-from-home-at-segi/