INTERNATIONAL SIBLING'S DAY

 The 10th of April is International Siblings Day. It is meant to celebrate the bond between siblings and honour the special relationship they share. It is time to recognize the support, love, and connection that siblings bring to each other’s lives. Whether you have a brother, a sister, or multiple siblings, it is an opportunity to show appreciation for their presence and the unique memories and experiences you have shared together.

I have a younger brother, and we have a five-year age gap. I wasn’t really happy back then when he was born.  Even though my mom was a housewife, she was not coping with looking after me and my brother. By the time I was 7 and going to grade 1; Grandma who used to live with us was taking care of me most of the time. I found it difficult to connect with my little brother then. We started enjoying each other’s company when I was in grade 5 and by then he was about 5 years old. He happened to be a more social and happy child than me.

In 2006, he moved to SA and I stayed back home to finish studying in medical school. We were very disconnected and I felt very lonely. Even when I reunited with the whole family back in 2013, I was struggling with the new culture and the family’s lifestyle. He was studying software engineering and got his first job while I was busy sorting out my paperwork with the Health Profession Council of South Africa. He still has a fun and outgoing nature, and I am the quiet and introverted one. 

He helped me a lot in adjusting to the South African lifestyle. He used to show me around, teach me how to drive, and help with all my smartphone, computer, and technology-related problems.

We both enjoy eating out, staying fit, traveling, and having Turkish coffee. We mostly meet at my parent’s place on Sundays for lunch and coffee. We have our disagreements, but we have been getting along pretty well over the years! He certainly has a more exciting social life than I do and has traveled to more countries. Having siblings is definitely a blessing in our lives.


One of my favorite photos of us, when he was about 6 months.



He is about 2 and we are both playing in our great-grandmother’s house in the summer. 


 

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