Entry #21. November 27, 2013, 9:50 am. Gate K15, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, USA. (Note: the last two blog posts are temporally out of order, but in conclusion, it's necessary to conclude my blog with my conclusions.) I have many mixed emotions as I look out the airport window
at American soil, knowing that I’m back home. These feelings almost match the
ones I had in the airport before I started my journey to Asia, except they are
reversed; now I am excited to be home and sad to leave Asia. But here I am
again, nearly two years later, overwhelmed by the sight of America beyond the
window, just like I was when I wrote my first blog post.
There is only one accurate word to describe the adventure
I’ve had: indescribable. I could throw out a bunch of powerful, sensory, and
sappy adjectives, but no words will sum up all that has happened to me,
internally and externally, from my time in Vietnam and SE Asia. I’m wondering
how I’ll answer the undeniable questions people will ask me: “What was your
favorite place?”, “What is the biggest difference between here and there?”,
“Did you like it?”. I’m sure I’ll give a too general answer or maybe sound
aloof, but I know that if anyone wants to have a serious conversation about the
world, travel, or people, I now have a lot to say.
For example, I’ve been in America for 2 hours now, in a
large and busy airport, and I’ve noted some interesting things: It’s freezing.
Everyone is speaking English…or Spanish or Spanglish. Everyone looks the same
(no joke, I actually said this to myself, and there’s a college dance team
sitting near me and I swear all 42 of them are wearing the same sweatshirt-leggings-boots combo and they would seriously confuse any Asian). There are so many rules. People are fat. Real toilets but no bum
guns. Gingers. People stand in lines and maintain order. MCDONALD’S.
(Note: the custom agents and girls who direct people at
passport control are extremely rude.
I feel sorry for non-citizens who come here and have that as their first
impression of the USA.)
Although most of these observations are somewhat negative,
know that I spent the last 12.5 hours on a plane sitting next to a snoring
Japanese man and the airline food has left me with my first case of American
diarrhea. But truthfully, I am very fortunate to be coming home the day before
Thanksgiving to a family that has been enlarged twice while I’ve been gone. My
sister got engaged and my brother had a baby all in the last few weeks. Uncle
Jon can’t wait to meet his beautiful niece…and eventually corrupt her…for the
better. I can’t tell you how guilty I felt when I knew my family was in the
hospital waiting for Lillian to be born, or calling my sister to congratulate
her after her fiancé, Rich proposed. Just like when I missed the first weddings
of my friends to get married or when my dog died. Although living in Asia has
enriched my life, it was very hard to be away at times. Which means that I am
blessed to be coming home to a supportive family and group of friends who are
equally excited for me to be back. The people who reached out to me while I was
gone, even in the simplest email or message, gave me an enormous slice of home
that reminded me of the wonderful life I also have in America. I think this is
me getting emotional through writing—but it’s true, nothing is more important than the people you love and who love you back.
In conclusion, I want to thank you for reading my blog,
writing comments, and encouraging me to experience life. Again, I have many
strengthened opinions and thoughts about travel, the world, and its people. I
think the most important lesson I take from this experience is that it doesn’t
matter where you go or how beautiful the places are you visit. What you will
remember most, and what will give you those ‘indescribable’ feelings, are the
people you meet. Our cultures are different throughout this planet, but people
are the same everywhere. A love for family, friends, and a desire to shape
society for the better are what we share.
It really isn’t the sights, but the people who make this world beautiful
and life wonderful.
