Thursday, August 24, 2006
I've arrived safely in Pittsburgh. Thank goodness. Relatively smooth this time, only for the fact that my connecting flight from Chicago to Pittsburgh was delayed. Had a pleasant surprise when I saw Halima at the Narita airport. Seeing her just brightened me up considerably after a rough ride from Singapore to Tokyo. Turned out that she was on the same flight as me all the way haha.
I finished reading Tuesdays With Morrie on the plane. It is a very readable, inspirational book, which touches on various issues in life that we often have to deal with. I guess once your days are numbered, you will start to see life from a different perspective, know your priorities better, realize that close relationships and spirituality are more important than material riches which are impermanent, and basically, you will live your life differently. Morrie's mantra is that the most important thing in this world is love - in his words, "Love each other or perish". (The Bible, by the way, also emphasizes the importance of love in this world). To love one another and be loved in return. It is perhaps idealistic to say that the world will be a much better place if we all love another, but I do think it will indeed be.
Why does it seem that it doesn't feel right that I'm back in Pittsburgh? It still feels as if I'm not supposed to be here yet. I thought leaving for a faraway place the first time would be the hardest, but I never imagined that it would be so much more difficult and painful this time. I could not bear to walk away from the glass wall before the immigration counter and the tears really did come this time. Too many emotions bottled up within me over the past week and I guess with Tuesday's events and the whole prospect of leaving, I just could not keep my emotions in check. The flight from Singapore to Tokyo was terrible; I was such an emotional wreck.
Sigh. What is wrong with me??
So there are only a few days left to the summer holidays before school starts again on Monday. I suppose it has been a fantastic and wonderful summer, if not a very eventful and emotional one. What is left of it are just mere memories and photos aplenty to remind me of the good times back home. I am just willing myself to block all thoughts about home to prevent myself from getting very homesick, something which is unnatural (and not very desirable) to do, something which I was so against to last year but am doing this year. Ah well. I just know that everyone back home will tell me that 4 months will pass by very quickly and soon, I will be home again.
To my dear little brother (well, I guess you are not that little anymore haha): I was really touched by what you said to me the other night and also by the fact that you actually wanted to wake up so early to send me off even though that day you had your bio prelim prac. All the best for your prelims coming up soon!
posted by vivien at 1:30 AM