What does “home” mean when crossing countries, cultures, and identities? In this episode, hosts Nishani Jayawardena and Himgauri (Gigi) Alve open up about growing up in Sri Lanka, India, and Dubai, and building new roots in Detroit. They share stories of boarding school independence, expat life, chosen family, and the guilt of leaving parents behind. From celebrating Holi and Ganesh Chaturthi to the comfort of food and community meals, they explore how traditions travel with us, and how home can shift from a place to people or even your own body.

Takeaways:

• Home can be a place, people, or a feeling—sometimes all three.
• Chosen family creates belonging when distance and loss set in.
• Boarding school shaped independence, identity, and friendships.
• Migration brings both grief and guilt, especially around aging parents.
• Food and festivals ground us across continents.
• Detroit became “home base” through community, not just location.
• Identity evolves with every move; home evolves with it.
• It’s okay to outgrow old definitions—home can live in your body and daily rituals.
  

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