At the Airport 7.3.09

Written while I was waiting at the Delhi airport before I flew to Kolkata. Lots happened since then.

Was able to find a skim latte, that was pretty nice. I’m running low on money and need to find an ATM badly. I also need to refill my cell phone but haven’t figured out how. I saw a stand that I thought was what I was needed, but it wasn’t. And I had been all proud of myself for thinking I had it figured out. Fail, eh. Other than those two things, I think I’m doing pretty well. I got to the airport really early, purposely because this was not a flight I wanted to miss. Unlike flights from Oakland to Vegas, these don’t leave every hour. While I was waiting I got some good work done and it felt good to be working. Very productive. And it also made me excited for the upcoming month. I think I’m going to get to see some pretty amazing things and talk to some pretty amazing people.

Airports are always so familiar. Doesn’t really matter where you are, you’re gonna have the same basic set up. Their security was definitely higher than most other airports I’ve been to, and it was run very efficiently. I was impressed by it. And because so far pretty much all I’ve done is been in a hotel, in an airport, or in a taxi, I haven’t had any of the experiences I’ve been told about as far as being a white westerner here and getting stared at, etc. There were a few other foreigners at the airport, but because it was the domestic terminal, I was definitely just one of few.

It’s been kind of nice to be so completely on my own these last couple of days. It’s usually rare that I go so long without really talking to anyone. I’ve never really been a philosopher and it’s not that I have used this time to reflect on the meaning of life etc … it’s just kind of a cleansing feeling to just be with oneself and not anyone else. It’s been a self check that I can do this – travel around the world and get from place to place and be completely by myself. I had people help me tremendously to set everything up and I am so grateful to all of that help, but it’s been pretty reassuring to know that I’ve been able to get here and do this.

That being said, I’m really looking forward to seeing someone I know tomorrow.