Day 2 – An Empty Atlantic

One day I will upload images to go along with these posts.

I spent much of the remainder of Day 1 on the internet primarily watching Netflix at my Gate in Boston. The highlight was a raspberry heffewessien by Harpoon Brewery and a meek cheese Panini. They really advertise the fact that in Boston, they are just across the river from Logan Airport. Just across the river might as well be across the world when you are trapped in a mile-by-mile landmass, in between where you were and where you are going. There really is no escaping from travel once you start.

The flight to London is very uneventful. Less than half the seats of the plane are full which means I can stretch out and relax. The luxury of dosing into odd dreams is interrupted by watching Sophia Copalla’s Somewhere and eating a pasta meal provided by Delta. I have to say, Delata’s pasta disappointed less.

Getting off the flight in Heathrow, collecting my baggage, and venturing through customs went by with little incident. At the customs booth, the agent was more interested in my research that I would be conducting in Germany than as to why I was staying in Cambridge. Sometimes looking harmless (and unshaven) has its benefits. The last time I went through customs at Heathrow, I was carrying a Cornell Campus Mail envelope, which, much to the amusement of the agent, looks exactly like the packages they hand over to those they are deporting from London.

A three hour bus ride awaited me. Mostly nodding in and out of consciousness occupied my time. The other was being caught up with images of the countryside and small towns. After a bit, it felt as if we had to stop at every small town from Heathrow to Cambridge.

At long last, arrival in Cambridge and my friend P is waiting for me. Successfully made it all the way! Not a small feet for someone who stressed about these things.

She insists on dragging my luggage (only one roller) through the back streets of Cambridge to her flat. Luckily, she is a triathlete so I do not feel so terrible. However, it amuses me that the bag is about half her size (P, if you are reading this, just think of me saying “bag” and I hope all is forgiven). Additionally, when you get into a walking pace with a rolling bag, you often can pick up a decent bass line for composing a song. Cobblecobblecobble-Curb-Cobblecobblecobble-Curb-Curb-Crackinsidewalk-Crackinsidewalk-Curb-Curb-Cobblecobblecobble and so forth.

Her flat is marvelous. She rents a small three and a half room one, minimally but very P like decorated. The view is fantastic, it overlooks King’s college and most of Cambridge. Overall, it looks like a comfortable home to be in for her two year stay there.

I am most impressed by the couch. The beast has no legs and rests directly on the floor. At first glance, it appears as if it has fallen or perhaps pillows constructed into seats. However, once I took a seat, I fell in love. A great piece of furniture apparently does not need legs.
She proved an adept tour guide as we wandered the streets and through ancient colleges. Pubs abound and she took me to one especially for the fish and chips. Well, they were out of fish, so we finished our pints and went on to an African restaurant (in Cambridge). Surprisingly good food was provided. The beer on the other hand, well, pales in comparison to the dark and strong American Beer.

From there, we ventured back to her flat through the windy streets. I was relieved to relax, a bit tired from the whole transition from the States to Europe. And thus concluded Day 2.

Day 1 : On Voyage

Travel.

Once again, I am travelling away from home. Unusual for me, I am actually staying in the new location longer. Leipzig for a research position for the summer.

I have the oddest times. Case in point, I woke up this morning in my friend R's house who agreed to take me to the airport. We had to drive to campus to pick up my suitcase, as I have been homeless for the past for months. As I said, odd.

The Ithaca airport is an over glorified bus terminal. I was worried that I was going to be late for my flight as I hectically was searching for a charger. However, on arriving to Ithaca, I realized that I was only one of six passengers making the voyage to La Guardia. Without thought, I brought on a bag that was two times too big as a carry on. Apparently, when there are only six people on the flight, they really don't care.

However, my Boston transfer was surprised to see such a large bag as a carry on and were happy when I suggested they check it for me. Note to self, confidence can outweigh any excess baggage fee. Also, I thank United for being flexible.

To Boston. I purposely scheduled a long layover so I could get work done. Work. Work. Work.

Which was interrupted. An elderly woman offered me a can of beer. Unfortunately, I decided to not take it as I was a little woosy still from wishing my labmate A off the night before. I should say, Doctor A now.

I was able to relax, for the first time in a month. Additionally, the specter of homelessness is gone. Things are changing once more for me. A new phase.

Much like travel, life comes with these phases. Todays is a new adventure, one I designed, orchestrated, and pushed an entire institution to obtain. Tomorrow means visiting an old friend, P. A few days after, Germany to work on a research project I have been integral in designing. Weeks later, returning to the US in order to resume life.

With a house.

And my car.

The basic luxuries of modern life.

A Year's Worth : Homeward

Tonight, I pack once again. Nothing special, I have done it hundreds of times before. Road trips, bus rides, and airfare have all whisked me across the globe as I chase after something that resembles life. Each Christmas, though, I make the trek home to visit and spend time with those people that helped to make and define me. However, more and more, it feels like just that, a visit.

As the world shrinks, the more adventurous and explorer types tend to find it easier to maintain relationships with those that you love, even when they are half a globe away. However, it is impossible to supersede the distance, relationships thrive when the person is half a block away. Shared experience, face time, moments that do not feel forced or limited are important. And above all, the most important thing for a relationship is time. Time to laugh, to love, to hate, to hurt, to grow, and to do the none too important things.

How we spend our time defines us (a very "duh" statement, but I'll say it to sound smart). As I have aged, I spend less and less time with my family, my base and more with the world at large. I have developed an intricate social network with some of the most interesting (to me) people in the world. They are my family away from my family.

But why should I develop another family in the first place?

As I get ready to leave home once more, I am hounded by a guilt that I have abandoned those that mean the world to me. My mother, my father, and my sister each propelled me into the future. However, I have a nagging suspicion that I just used them and now have left them behind. A balance must be struck.

I suppose, mostly the shift in internal thought process has come about by simply getting older and maturing. Will I continue to abandon the relationships that mean most to me for the next exciting challenge? Will I be content to return home someday? Is this nothing more than being fearful about being homeless, car-less, and soon country-less?

Questions. The answers are the stuff of life.

-Nomad

Travels - Paris and London

Paris...

London...


If you are ever feeling funky about life, run away to a foreign country. It really does help. Note, I need a new camera and after discussion with many people, may end up getting a Canon 7D. Go big or go home, eh?