I’ve spent the last 12 years living in Canada, and now I’m back in India, continuing my journey with a tech company here. I first went to Toronto as a student, completed my engineering, and then started working as a software engineer. Those years gave me incredible exposure—not just professionally, but also in understanding life - culture, finances, cooking, communication, immigration, struggles living away from your own et all the challenges of assimilating into a different region. Along the way, I’ve experienced both the pros and cons of living abroad: from financial security and travel opportunities, to social life, family planning, food, and the subtle differences in everyday living. Now, being back in India, I find myself reflecting on all that I’ve learned—how the Canada shaped my thinking, and how moving back home comes with its own set of opportunities and struggles. It’s been a full-circle experience, one that I believe could be valuable to anyone considering immigration or emigration. This journey has given me perspective, resilience, and stories worth sharing—insights that go beyond the surface and into what life truly feels like on either side of the fence. This is my story 12 years abroad.