Finding Home Far From Home

On my first day at Agder Folkehøgskole, I sat at the lunch table surrounded by students who seemed comfortable, familiar with each other, and at ease. I, on the other hand, felt completely out of place. Conversations flowed around me, but I struggled to follow along or find the right moment to speak. In that moment, it didn’t feel like home. It felt like I was simply passing through.

Text: Tokara Zumura

The first few days were not easy. Talking to other students felt difficult, especially with the language barrier and the fear of saying the wrong thing. Even something as simple as starting a conversation required courage. I often found myself observing more than participating, unsure of how to fully step into this new environment.

But slowly, things began to change. It started with something small: saying “hi.” I noticed a few students who would smile whenever we crossed paths. I began greeting them, and those small exchanges became the foundation of something bigger. From greetings, we moved to short conversations. From short conversations to longer ones. Gradually, I began to feel more comfortable.

As time went on, I found myself holding conversations with students I had become familiar with. What once felt difficult began to feel natural. The same spaces that once felt unfamiliar started to feel more welcoming.

Then something even more meaningful happened. Some students began inviting me to take part in social activities evening gatherings, group events, and shared experiences beyond the classroom. These invitations may have seemed small, but to me, they meant everything. They made me feel seen. They made me feel included. They made me feel like I belonged.

What makes a place feel like home

It was not only the students who made this transition easier. Teachers and student leaders also played a role by keeping me informed about school programs and activities. Being included in information, being asked to participate, and being treated as part of the community helped me settle in more quickly than I expected.

Through these experiences, I began to understand something important: a community does not feel like home because of the place itself. It feels like home because of the people. Home is not just where you live. It is where you are acknowledged, where your presence matters, and where others make space for you. It is built through simple actions, a greeting, a conversation, an invitation.

At first, I thought belonging would come naturally with time. But I have learned that it is something that is created, both by those who welcome and those who are willing to step forward, even when it feels uncomfortable. 

Finding home far from home is not about replacing where you come from. It is about discovering that connection and belonging can exist in more than one place. And sometimes, all it takes is a simple “hello” to begin building it.