For What It Was and What It Meant: A Farewell to International Development
The International Development post-graduate program at Centennial College was more than just a course — it was a community. With classmates from 11 countries, every discussion was a global exchange of ideas, perspectives, and aspirations. From celebrating birthdays in multiple languages to learning the realities of development work, the program shaped not just careers but worldviews. As it comes to an end due to shifting immigration policies, this farewell is not just to a program but to the transformative experiences it fostered.
Saudade: Waves of Melancholy
Saudade is the closest word I’ve found to describe how I felt after returning home from Kurdistan—a longing shaped by love, memory, and the ache of leaving parts of yourself behind. This piece reflects on identity, return, and the quiet melancholy of belonging to more than one place.
If Once More I Return to Kurdistan
If once more I return to Kurdistan, I will return differently. This reflection traces the distance between who I was as a teenager searching for Western modernity and who I am now—yearning instead for language, culture, and presence.