Before jumping into the final entry of this South American journey, I want to reflect on a couple things prior to when I flew back home. I was leaving from Arequipa, Peru by bus up to Lima and it is about a 16 hour bus ride. It was a bus I took at night so I arrived at Lima in the morning. One thing I failed to take into consideration is a tax you have to pay to leave the country… I don’t know why they do it but they do. I was virtually broke at this time and thankfully yet again had to get some money wired from my good friend Todd so I could pay the tax to get home. I was limping home with barely a penny to my name. I arrived off the bus in Lima in the morning and my flight back was a night flight. I spent 12 hours at that airport killing time. Thankfully, I had a book to read. It was a book I had received from a woman I had met at the hostel. Her name was Dani and we had discussed books. I had brought a book titled “Ishmael” with me. It was a book I enjoyed but it was time to part ways with it as it was something I had received from my ex. I can’t explain my reasoning for bringing it with me. Anyways, Dani and I exchanged books. I gave her “Ishamael” and she gave me a book that she really enjoyed titled “An Equal Music”. Thankfully, I enjoyed it as well and it helped to kill a good chunk of the 12 hours I had to wait before I boarded my flight back home.
I feel so relieved as I am now back on American grounds. I’m at JFK and finish my trip with an hour flight to Boston. I’m currently waiting in terminal 4 to see if my friend Stephanie shows up. She wanted me to call her when I arrived but frankly I don’t have even a mere dollar to make the call. I had forewarned her though by internet message on Myspace. I hope she does show up. It would be good to see a familiar face again. When I arrive in Boston my other friend Stephanie is picking me up. It will be good once I get that far. The closer to home I get the more relaxed I begin to feel. It’s funny, I left because I wanted to be away, I was practically cursing home. Now, I couldn’t be happier to be back. It takes a bit of culture shock and harsh reality to recognize how good home can be sometimes. I believe that reflecting on my thoughts… I have actually found what I was seeking.
As I think about this entry I’m not so sure that I was really seeking anything as much as I was trying to run away from something. It makes me think about a song I had written with my friend Todd. The first lyrics are “You can run from your problems, but they’ll only stay.” I think that’s the truth I didn’t know back then. Sadly, this concludes our trip together. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope I was a competent guide to lead you along the way. I have bigger plans on this journey as whole. I would ideally like to publish it with actual scans of my real journal to give it the real feel I have tried to portray. Please comment or message me if this is something you may be interested in. So long for now.
Bravo Nate!
I’m sorry to see this blog end but what a story. You definitely should pursue your thoughts on expanding and publishing this journey of youth. Its a classic! Reading this has caused me to reflect on my own “youthful journey”. The joy, terror, adventure, and realization that “There’s no place like home”.
~ W ~
LikeLike
Great post 🙂
LikeLike