After three airports, a trans-pacific flight, all-you-can-eat sushi and drinks at Cactus, I had to organize life accumulated over the last 14 years in the form of material attachments, concentrate the essentials into 2 x 23kg plus a 23cm x 40cm x 55cm.
12 hours later, I was back at YVR, too strung out to deal with my fear or bother to wipe the tears... I couldn't afford to miss another flight this year. Reality was slowly settling in, when what seemed like every single person at the airport, from the check-in counter rep, the currency booth lady, to the security check officer all checked my boarding pass and stared in disbelief and sympathy, "aw... it's not as bad as they say... it's just one year right?". (who exactly are "they" I would like to know) Even the dear old Hungarian grandpa sitting next to me on my flight to Frankfurt, who offered me his pillow and his personal seat cushion (in return I gave him, to his delight, peanuts and chocolate)... almost had a stroke when I informed him of my final destination. "No..... no..... no......" and after about 15 minutes of the same syllable, "but... you are too pretty to go there!". Although I can't verify the truth of any part of that statement, the remark left me wondering for the rest of the flight... apparently in his version of the brave new world, only ugly people are allowed to go to horrible places... and somehow, by choosing to go there, have I placed myself in a category of the "not good looking enough for your own country"?
But as you travel on you'll start to wonder where IS your country really...
ReplyDeleteI have never felt very Canadian... until I left. When I was in Japan I felt a constant need to assert my Canadian-ness. Of course you will always meet people that just want to categorize you in their comfort zone... when I am in a better mood I do try my best to break down the stereotype.
ReplyDeleteSo traveling is a confirmation of your identity to yourself and to those you encounter.