Many times in the past two years I envisioned what coming home would be like. It was often when I was riding on trains, or trying to sleep at night. I thought it would perhaps be something similar to out of a movie with meeting loved ones with hugs and tears.
I finally got that
chance to come home for a visit. I left for a holiday and found
myself living abroad. Ironically, now going home has become the
holiday. I flew into JFK airport with my partner Steve. Going through customs wasn't the nightmare I thought it would be, as I had visited many countries?while I was gone.?My Aunt and
Grandmother were kind enough to arrange for someone to pick us up and
drive us home to New Jersey. I was a bit disorientated from the 16
and a half hours in the air but I still was able to take the traffic
and highways in. After awhile, we were there, pulling up to my
Grandmother's house where we would stay for a few weeks. We
collected our bags, went to the house, and got the greeting I had
been waiting for.
It was like it had only
been a few weeks since I last saw her and my Aunt, instead of a few
years. It was a bizarre feeling really. And comforting. I would
say that would sum up my time at home, comforting and familiar. I
suppose with facebook and Skype allowing me to keep in touch with
everyone it makes sense. As the weeks passed, I met up with many
people and it was a similar experience. Some people perhaps changed
slightly in appearance but visits with them felt like I never went on
a trip at all. We picked up the same conversations that we left off
with years ago. It makes me think, if I hadn't left for this big
trip then this would still be my life as well. I am certainly glad
that I went on the trip that I did but now I begin to wonder if it's
time to go back to the old life. It certainly contains a comforting
element that I have yet to find in my life in New Zealand. I'm not
going to lie, I miss the career, the extra funds, the strong
friendships and the family. I'm starting to think again about
setting down the roots.
Things haven't really
changed but I will say that my eyes looking upon everything have. My
life in Queenstown is very small and sheltered and experiencing again
one of the most populated areas in the States has been a bit of a
shock. For one thing I was initially bewildered at all the variety,
especially in the grocery stores. I enjoyed shopping as I do feel
that fashion styles are slightly different here than in New Zealand.
I forgot how dependent us Americans are on cars and lack of
opportunities to exercise outside of the gym. I nearly had a melt
down driving outside the Washington DC area from the cars and traffic
on 95 South. I found America to not be as cheap as I remembered it
being, with the exception of the petrol. That was a nice change. It
seems like everyone has a smart phone now, and when did they start
putting those little phone bar codes on everything? And what is with
all the #twitter stuff everywhere as well? I found my diet changed
as I was able to eat more chicken and vegetables again, these two
things being especially expensive in Queenstown. Having a a
Grandmother and parents to cook food for us was nice as well.
Going to New York City
was my favorite part. Steve my partner had never been, I ended up
doing things I never had done before, such as the Brooklyn Bridge,
the 9/11 Memorial, and Top of the Rock. Seeing a city you are
familiar with after traveling is something else. If anything, I
think I appreciate NYC even more. I have been to many, many cities
in my travels. Each one has its own personality with the people, the
transport, and the buildings. I enjoyed the cities in Europe with
all of their history and culture. I liked the cities in China for
their differences from the Western World. I found myself a bit bored
with the Australian cities being a bit too modern (sorry). There's
just something about NYC that I love. Perhaps it's the blend of
modern skyscrapers with classic architecture. Or the craziness of
the cab drivers and traffic. It could be the familiar unpleasant
smell of the subways coming up from the vents in the sidewalks, or
how there always seems to be something going around, no matter where
you look. It's very interesting how traveling can make you open your
eyes up more to the world that you live in.
Going home certainly
had many happy moments. I got to see friends and family that I
missed dearly. But it was a bit frustrating and sad as well. You
see everyone for a bit, but then you have to say goodbye again. It
pulls at the heart strings. It's easier to deal with not being
around people when you are far away and haven't seem them in awhile.
But when they are right there, and you find yourselves laughing like
you used to, joking like you used to, and not having a care in the
world with the people that you love you don't want to leave it again.
I know that it will be fine when I get back to New Zealand, but when
I have to say goodbye to people it can feel like a cold and empty
place. When I was on my travels, and even settled abroad I often
felt alone, even though I have been fortunate to form some
friendships and relations with people. Going home has been a nice
reminder that I still matter to people. I guess that makes the hurt
of saying goodbye again worth it.
I'd like to thank
everyone at home for making my visit worthwhile, especially to my
Grandmother, Aunts, sister, mother, father and step-mom. Thanks also
to my friends for making the effort to see us, even if it may have
been for a few hours. Believe me, I wish it could have been more.
I hope it's less than 2
more years before the next time I visit, and until then I will be
thinking of you all fondly.
Source: http://journals.worldnomads.com/lauren_watson/story/89534/USA/When-Going-Home-Becomes-Your-Holidays
kansas vs ohio state winning mega million numbers bruce weber boston globe google maps 8 bit mirror mirror robyn
No comments:
Post a Comment