I've always loved Airports. If ever you forget what life is about, spend an hour watching the people there. Everyone is either saying hello or goodbye to someone, something, some place, or some part of their life. The full range of human emotion can be experienced just sitting in a terminal, watching as people shuffle by: checking in, disembarking, loading, unloading, or running to make a connection at the last second. It's a place of missed opportunities, and second chances. Tears off all kinds are shed-- joy, sadness, laughter, frustration, loneliness, and love. Given the romance of it all, I have no idea why airport employees seem so jaded and pissed off. Maybe they block it out because the sheer amount of life happening around them is too overwhelming.
I once saw a man get off the plane and arrive at the baggage claim. He was in his mid 30's, Chinese, and looked to have just returned from a business trip. His hair was matted and unkempt, his appearance disheveled, and his clothing mismatched in a cacophony of color as if he had been traveling for some time-- away from the consistent attention of a female in his life. As he descended from the escalator, his weary gaze caught the eyes of his wife and child. The woman clutched her breast with one hand and her son in the other. The man broke into a grin and dropped his bags, as the boy dashed from his mother's grasp and leapt into his father's arms. The man kissed his son and lifted him into the air and beaming with pure adoration. He put the boy down, and father and son hopped up and down excitedly all the while clapping their hands and laughing.
From my vantage point, I couldn't discern what words were exchanged, but it hardly mattered. The man pulled his son against his chest and placed his hand on top of the boy's head as a way of measuring how much he had grown while he had been gone. He then shifted his attention to his wife, and both laughed as the boy ran circles around the couple making jet engine noises with his arms outstretched. My impression of Asian families, and Asian parents, being conservative and emotionally distant was cast aside in that moment.
In a place where everyone is coming or going, cultural differences are superseded by the better part of human nature. Everywhere you look in an airport there are kisses exchanged, hugs given and received, and raw humanity on display for all to see; no one seems to care that strangers are there to witness their intimate moment-- for they are but travelers whose paths will never cross with yours again. All that matters is where you're headed, and what you're leaving behind.
I will never forget the man in Tullamarine airport who has so kindly and literally emptied his pocket of australian coins just so i could make a phone call. i tried to offer him my pounds sterling in exchange but he simply gave me this huge warm smile and said, " go make your phone call". he must have took pity on my puffy eyes and tears striken face. that stranger who touched my heart by his simple gesture. it simply tells that there are people out there who knows what isit like to be at airports alone, afraid or totally shattered on the inside simply because of what you are leaving behind or where you are heading off to. it simply tells that there are people who understand how important it must be just to make that phone call, to hear that voice, or to say goodbye once again.
I have left behind alot in many airports. I left one litre of tears, the ones i love, the ones who love me and most of all, an entourage of bittersweet memories. I have also headed to many places from an airport. either to university, to see someone i love, so go back to someone i love, to a taxfree shopping haven, to see the world's most beautiful structure, scenery - i have almost done it all. most of all, this year alone, i left 3 different airports in 3 different countries with similar emotions - crying my heart out, carrying so much pain in my heart and reluctancy. If only i didn't have to leave on a jet plane...
