Home Sweet Homes

09.06.2015 NAIA, Manila

Home Sweet Homes

Here I go again. Sitting in yet another airport, waiting to board, imagining my luggage cruise through the catacombs of NAIA Terminal 3. Time to get my creative juices flowing again and reawaken this blog from an almost 2 month hibernation period.

It’s been over a year and two months since I left Berlin. 5 months of enjoying the Philippines. 7 months of working in Australia. And two months of home.
I left this blog upon arrival in Berlin. A home sweet home that wasn’t a planned part of this journey. I arrived in time for spring awakening and it was a beauty. Though my mind was all over the place - floating in a dimension somewhere between dreams and reality, elation and confusion, comfort and stress – the three weeks “vacation” in Germany turned out to be illuminating. Seeing familiar faces, being surrounded by family and experiencing the most joyous occasion of my sisters wedding. Places and food were enjoyed, stories were told, tears of joy were shed and talks about future plans were avoided as best I could ;) I won’t go into detail, because, as you can imagine, details of being home are not necessarily a source of inspiration. But certain images are worth sharing: Hugging friends and truly enjoying the feeling of familiarity. Walking down a street lined with blossoming cherry trees while enjoying some of the best ice cream in town. Going on a road trip with the family for the first time in forever. Seeing Hannah burst into tears in 0.1seconds after hearing that we will be aunties soon. Being part of the most beautiful wedding ceremony and watching my now brother-in-law‘s hand shake like jello as he put the ring on Lena‘s finger. Cozying up in my corner on our couch and sharing it with the person I have missed most.

The weeks following this trip home, I spent at home. Manila. This time around, it really did feel more like home than on any other occasion I have visited since I life 9 years ago. Days passed, things got done. I took time for myself and gave time to my family. I helped pack up the past – going through and storing the entire contents of my dad’s apartment. I opened up my thoughts to the future – talking to my mom and allowing myself to utter words that I’ve kept under tight lock-up from even myself. I spent some time in Baguio, my home away from home, and enjoyed every second of it. I cuddled with our cats, played with our dogs and got chomped on by mosquitos. It was hot as hell. It was productive and relaxed. It was filled with love and comfort.
And now, I am oh-so ready for this third and final (if there can ever be a final) chapter of this journey!

Vietnam, here I come!