JFK terminal 1

it’s time to leave the states. I wait for my final flight from an American airport the same way I did for my first - overwhelmed with a grande iced chai on soy from Starbucks. it’s way too sweet, but it reminds me of someone I miss very much who first bought one for me quite a while ago now. he’s probably sleeping now - as are most of the people in my life. time is strange. I sleep whilst most of my loved ones live and work and eat and laugh. what a wide world.

I have been spoiled with kindness here. the country itself overwhelmed me no end. it’s very loud and full of people treading water, with ridiculous prices and noise that never seems to stop. my respect for my loved ones living here has only grown. I regret not being able to see everyone who has touched my heart that lives in this mammoth country. I wish I had the time and money. I wish I saw Eliu - I don’t know if she still reads this, but she’s been on my mind a lot. I hope she’s happy and enjoying her new life here.

but the people I’ve seen. from Iowa City to Bushwick to Boston. I don’t know how I got so lucky. it feels bittersweet to fly in and out of the spaces and worlds of the people I treasure and miss. I try to remind myself how lucky I am to know and miss such precious friends, but I do find it tricky having parts of my heart left with people so far from my world back home.

my heart is full. a strange country lucky enough to call itself the home of some of the most wonderful people I know. I won’t forget my time here and I’ll always count myself grateful for the people I treasure here. it’s time to go for now. I will see my friends again, and will treasure them no matter the distance.

another chapter, with more sights and sounds and loved ones to treasure. and so we fly. <<