I Made It

It’s been a tough few days. It’s hard to have been one of the last ones to leave Jordan, saying goodbye so many times to so many people I’ve fallen in love with. My roommates, my fieldmates, my friends.

This morning, I said the last goodbyes I’ll have to say of this season. Olivia and Sashiere woke up early with Nikki and I and saw us off. Doug took us to the airport and hugged us before dropping us at the terminal. I said goodbye to Nikki in the Turkish airport as she went on to her connecting flight and I went through to customs and baggage claim.

Emotionally, part of me really wishes I were going home. I miss my family, I miss my friends, I miss my routine. But I know part of the reason why I feel this way is that I’ve spent the last few days hearing everyone’s ideas about what they’re going to do first when they get home. And I certainly have my own list, too.

But then, as my taxi drove nearly at the speed of light through a road completely unfamiliar to me, a harbour opened up on the right side of the vehicle. Vague silhouettes of boats on the horizon drifted lightly in morning foggy-white air and then I realized I was here in Turkey. It was a new country presenting itself to me for exploration.