Glasgow Diaries Part (5) V: Goodbyes and Changes

May 2018 to July 2018: Sometime after that fairytale night in early May, Mahdee had officially asked me to be his girlfriend, I of course said yes and we spent so much time together, going to new restaurants and exploring Glasgow in a way that even Mahdee hadn't ever seen. During this time, I had work placements at a hospital as apart of my masters course and Mahdee continued working and would spend time with me after work and during the weekends. 

At this time we had not told anyone that we were dating. Although, at the time it was not a big deal for me personally, later on in our relationship it did get frustrating at times having to hide our affection towards one another in group settings. I remember Mahdee telling me that he had a friend that was in a relationship for over two years and that him and his girlfriend didn't even hold hands in public and walked on separate sidewalks too. I remember thinking how I never wanted to be that type of couple, I didn't want to hide my relationship from anyone but at the same time I understood Mahdee's reasoning behind it. There was a large desi community that would not have liked us being together because being in a relationship, in their eyes, was not okay unless you were married. I had told my friends back home about Mahdee and he had told two of his friends about me, in Glasgow. 

Between my work placement at the hospital, spending time with my best friends Momo and Zee and completing assignments, it was getting tough but I remember being the happiest I had been in a very long time. Everything was perfect. But unfortunately that did not last very long. 

Momo and Zee had started their master's degree courses a year before me which meant that they were going to be graduating and moving back home soon. We became sisters in such a short amount of time and it was the saddest moment when it came time for them to leave. My Glasgow experience wouldn't have been the same if it weren't for Momo and Zee. From the late night talks, to planning and celebrating each other's surprise birthday parties, to hosting Ramadan iftar dinners, to sharing so many tears and laughs together. They taught me so much and really made my living abroad experience the best. I am so fortunate that even though we are miles apart now, we still keep in touch and maintain that same type of bond that we did when we lived together. Saying goodbye to them was so difficult because I knew that the student accommodation that we shared together would never be the same without them. 

End of July 2018: Momo and Zee graduated and moved out and Mahdee and I were going strong. However, after my work placement was completed, I had made the decision to change my masters degree course completely to public health. Changing my course major had to be done because it meant that I had higher chances of advancing in my field, back in America. Unfortunately, changing my course major meant that I had to go back home to America and apply for a new student visa and start my new course in January 2019. It was extremely difficult to know that Mahdee and I would be apart for three to four months. Saying goodbye to Mahdee was very sad but we promised we'd keep in contact every day. On the way to the airport, I slipped a note in the dashboard of  Mahdee's car that I had written, which listed all of the things I liked about him. I wanted him to have something tangible from me that he could remember me by, while I was away. I don't remember much from the flight back home to America expect for the fact that I cried during most of it. It was a really sad time knowing I was leaving Mahdee for a few months and knowing that Momo and Zee wouldn't be in Glasgow when I would come back in January 2019. 

Next Glasgow Diaries Part VI: The Worst Time