Home at last

I've been sitting at the airport since 2300 yesterday and now it's almost 0600. Surprisingly I'm not that bored yet. I have music to listen to, French to study and Mai to text.

Really can't wait to see my fam though.

Something I've learned over the past four months of traveling is that it's really not worth it to spend too much time alone. I would rather be chilling in a lame A place surrounded by people I love than in a new country with no one to talk to.

I'm kind of surprised that it took me this long to figure it out, but glad I did.

Nonetheless, I will never regret the past for months I've spent abroad. I've learned so much about myself and the world. I've tapped into the deep and sometimes it was very heartbreaking but it was also eye opening and humbling.

I don't know if I yet consider myself a world traveler. There's just so much I haven't seen. Sometimes when I visit a new place it reminds me of old places I've been and it feels like I haven't been anywhere new at all.

Some days I felt so unproductive so now I have all this energy to do stuff and it's pretty exciting. Also I don't think I've ever been so excited for a homemade meal and a hectic family gathering.

Over the past four months, I've learned that I need to let people get closer to me and not be afraid of putting myself out there, I need to ask more questions and just listen to people's stories because everyone is actually so fascinating, family is more important than anything, I need to make the church more my home, and that life is too short to be hating on yourself. We just need to love more I guess is what I'm trying to say.

Also no matter how many miles away we go, we can't escape our problems and responsibilities. Honestly, they're more up in our face when we travel. I think that's why traveling can be helpful to sort through the shit.

Also being young and fit and healthy are such incredible gifts that we need to take care of.

I have also confirmed once again that I cannot live without serving others. I hate feeling unhelpful or that I'm only living for myself. To me that's not living at all.

Okay another random thing, we should all be more informed about our communities and what's happening where we are and where we're from. Being informed makes you a better storyteller and a better person.

While I was waiting for 16ish hours, I finished watching 13 Reasons, and I also finished reading On Being Mortal. Both were pretty good and I learned that I should probably value my quality of life a little bit more. This became very real promptly after when this weird child that reminded me of Pauline and her grandma came and sat at the table I was at. I have a bad habit of eaves dropping but they were also very loud. My headphones were in and I was listening to music and I could still hear them. Their conversations was very awkward but was also completely small talk. The kid yelled at her grandma too and called her dumb. I was very shook. I am so grateful for our family and how we can have thought provoking and interesting conversations and that we were raised to be good at communicating. It breaks my heart when I see really explosive and socially awkward kids because I think that's definitely because of how they were raised.

Mai and I were messaging back and forth again and I am so excited to go home. We both said we'll probably cry when we see each other and run into each other's arms.

I went to the bathroom one last time and I diarrhea-ed again. Hopefully it will hold off until I make it home.

When I got off the flight Mai was waiting for me in the foyer where she always does. We ran into each other's arms and gave the best hug. I shed a tear. All was good in the world. Dad and lien picked us up. Mom got home the same time we did. Trinh and Quynh hid behind the counter and came out when we started walking in like they usually do. I love our family so much and nothing feels better than being home for the holidays.

I think this is where I'll leave it.

Estoy agradecida por: un hogar, mi familia, cena en casa