Tuesday, November 11, 2014

It's Different This Time

I've been in Suva for a month now. It's different this time. I'm trying to pinpoint the exact reason why. In some ways, it's easier.

My first visit to Fiji was a hotel visit. Every morning my husband would get up and go to work, our son and I would head down to the lobby for breakfast. We swam in the pool, explored Suva, on the weekend we ventured out to a resort and watched spinner dolphins jump in the sunshine.

 By the time of my second visit and later visits we were in a house. That was much more of a cultural experience than staying in a hotel room. For one thing, because we had a kitchen I *had* to go to the store and the market for groceries. It also rained every day of my visit. Even so, I had coffee almost daily with neighbors and enjoyed my stay. Because all of our belongings either came with us in a suitcase or were provided with the home, the visit felt more like camping than being home.

 It's different now.

 Part of the difference is easy to see: we have our stuff with us. Everything is physically in close proximity to us. Unpacked? Well, that's a whole different story. But it's here. The biggest differences are more internal. Before when I couldn't find something, I laughed and chalked it up to the grand adventure. Now, if I can't find anything, I have to decide if I'm going to let it mess with my mind, or if it's still part of the grand adventure. One thing is for certain: If I can't find it, I don't have the option of just getting it back in New York. 

Speaking of which: where is home now? If I book a trip "home" what airport code do I enter?

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