The Smell Of Home Summary

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Many people have very different perceptions of the word home. While some think of home as a place, others describe it as a person or a feeling. People in different situations often have unlike views on the topic. For example, in the short story The Smell of Home by Chika Unigwe the author feels that home is in his wife and makes this realization when forced into a situation where he must move away. On the other hand, the article “After a lifetime of loss, refugee finds a new home in Buffalo” from the Buffalo News very much considers home a place you make for yourself. The true meaning of home is a feeling of comfort and relaxation. In the short story, the author shows how a forced change made a man realize where his home really is. For instance, after telling his wife he lost his job and seeing her initial reaction, he thinks “Love isn't always enough.” This shows that the man, Emeka, is having doubts about where he lies and isn’t sure if his past experiences will be similar to his new future. Knowing he lost his job and would likely have to move to find a new one made him question what he knew about his family and home life. …show more content…

To illustrate, the author discusses teaching as a constant in Bishnu Adhikari’s life and says that after moving to a new country “Now, his classroom is at a home on the West Side.” Clearly, the author is claiming that teaching others makes him feel at home, but is it the act itself or the emotions involved giving him this perception? He has a home in doing what he loves, but isn’t that just the thing that makes him feel comfortable? Consider the way he interacts with others. The article states “he emerges as a leader in his community” when refugees new to the community come to him for assistance. Obviously he wouldn’t devote so much of his time showing others the way if he felt uncomfortable with it. He has found a home in teaching because it is familiar and

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