route before. Only three months had transpired since the
last endless journey, yet a lifetime of stories had occurred. I closed my eyes
as we flew over Israel and my mind began to drift... Yes, Singapore had been
good to me. It had been good for me. An experience I would
never forget. There was never any question of what it would afford me
professionally, because that I already knew. It was the personal
development, however, that surprised me, and the growth I had not anticipated.
I had been exposed to so much at once, in all different facets of life... The
culture. A wonderful mix of people. I had been immersed in a world where
three human breeds, lived peacefully and joyfully as one. The Chinese. Soft
spoken, porcelain faces, smiles and respect. Emotion was not a trait that was
easily displayed, but something I worked hard to understand. The Indians.
Strong defined features with powerful talking eyes. Expressive and alive with
traditions that consumed me. The Malay. A hybrid of the East bearing beauty
and depth. Energy from within shedding warmth through their souls. They were
all so different from me. From each other. Varied and diverse. I thrived in
this setting where all were unique. I adapted to them and they to me and the
challenge was nothing but fun... But then I met someone else. It had been
several weeks into my stay. The introduction took some time, but I know now,
it was well worth the wait. It was me that I met. I met myself. Strange as
that sounds, I did. Away from my element with time on my hands, I learned more
about who I was. It wasn't my thoughts or the people I was with or what I had
said that day. I witnessed my activities and my time spent alone and how it
affected my day. My life had become different without built in support, my
dear ones at home that I loved ... But then there was Sam, my dear friend Sam.
He was my boss abroad. We had established a unique and very special bond, one
that I respected and cherished. He was my support, in limited ways, but
sufficient enough for me. I tried to be his but feared I fell short, but did
the best that I could. I knew he wanted more, not just as a friend, but it was
something I just couldn't give him. Yet another situation I learned how to
manage, alone, on my own in Asia. And there was more. There was so much
more. But for me the glory, the excitement, the growth, was being aware of it
all. Acutely aware of all that surrounded me, of all that I was part of and
living.
"Would you like to see a menu," the flight attendant had
asked me. "Yes please, I'm starved," I responded.
He handed me a menu and I surveyed the choices. As I did, I
stopped. The print at the top of the menu informed me of something, and of
more than what I would be eating. The menu read, flying time to Frankfurt is
13 hours and 23 minutes. Was I on the wrong flight? Did they change the
route? I thought we'd be flying to Brussels. I searched for my ticket feeling
anxious and confused yet I knew the ultimate destination was New York. It was Tristan
I was thinking about as we approached his home turf which was minutes outside
of Frankfurt. But my flight was correct as my ticket confirmed, I had just
never taken the time to look at it. As Germany grew nearer my senses came
alive, but ironically he was still in Indonesia.
As the plane touched ground I felt helpless and unsure as I had
the need to do something. It was difficult to digest that I was in Frankfurt,
but more that I was not able to see him. I wandered through the airport with
one hour to spare, as I examined the surroundings so familiar to him. By being
in his environment and his place of work, I felt that I had acquired a part of
him. I wished that I could leave something, an indication of some sort, for
him, that I had actually been there. It was 6 a.m. and the shops were all
closed so I walked to vent my energies. As
last endless journey, yet a lifetime of stories had occurred. I closed my eyes
as we flew over Israel and my mind began to drift... Yes, Singapore had been
good to me. It had been good for me. An experience I would
never forget. There was never any question of what it would afford me
professionally, because that I already knew. It was the personal
development, however, that surprised me, and the growth I had not anticipated.
I had been exposed to so much at once, in all different facets of life... The
culture. A wonderful mix of people. I had been immersed in a world where
three human breeds, lived peacefully and joyfully as one. The Chinese. Soft
spoken, porcelain faces, smiles and respect. Emotion was not a trait that was
easily displayed, but something I worked hard to understand. The Indians.
Strong defined features with powerful talking eyes. Expressive and alive with
traditions that consumed me. The Malay. A hybrid of the East bearing beauty
and depth. Energy from within shedding warmth through their souls. They were
all so different from me. From each other. Varied and diverse. I thrived in
this setting where all were unique. I adapted to them and they to me and the
challenge was nothing but fun... But then I met someone else. It had been
several weeks into my stay. The introduction took some time, but I know now,
it was well worth the wait. It was me that I met. I met myself. Strange as
that sounds, I did. Away from my element with time on my hands, I learned more
about who I was. It wasn't my thoughts or the people I was with or what I had
said that day. I witnessed my activities and my time spent alone and how it
affected my day. My life had become different without built in support, my
dear ones at home that I loved ... But then there was Sam, my dear friend Sam.
He was my boss abroad. We had established a unique and very special bond, one
that I respected and cherished. He was my support, in limited ways, but
sufficient enough for me. I tried to be his but feared I fell short, but did
the best that I could. I knew he wanted more, not just as a friend, but it was
something I just couldn't give him. Yet another situation I learned how to
manage, alone, on my own in Asia. And there was more. There was so much
more. But for me the glory, the excitement, the growth, was being aware of it
all. Acutely aware of all that surrounded me, of all that I was part of and
living.
"Would you like to see a menu," the flight attendant had
asked me. "Yes please, I'm starved," I responded.
He handed me a menu and I surveyed the choices. As I did, I
stopped. The print at the top of the menu informed me of something, and of
more than what I would be eating. The menu read, flying time to Frankfurt is
13 hours and 23 minutes. Was I on the wrong flight? Did they change the
route? I thought we'd be flying to Brussels. I searched for my ticket feeling
anxious and confused yet I knew the ultimate destination was New York. It was Tristan
I was thinking about as we approached his home turf which was minutes outside
of Frankfurt. But my flight was correct as my ticket confirmed, I had just
never taken the time to look at it. As Germany grew nearer my senses came
alive, but ironically he was still in Indonesia.
As the plane touched ground I felt helpless and unsure as I had
the need to do something. It was difficult to digest that I was in Frankfurt,
but more that I was not able to see him. I wandered through the airport with
one hour to spare, as I examined the surroundings so familiar to him. By being
in his environment and his place of work, I felt that I had acquired a part of
him. I wished that I could leave something, an indication of some sort, for
him, that I had actually been there. It was 6 a.m. and the shops were all
closed so I walked to vent my energies. As
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