Journey Home

It was an emotional day for me. Perhaps that is what triggered me and got me thinking all the way home.

The journey to the airport was a difficult one. As the taxi drove by the familiar sights and sounds of Manchester, it dawned upon me that: this could well be the last time I visit Manchester anytime soon, as I'll be relocating to London with my sister in the coming year.

The phone calls were relatively difficult too. I just can't help feeling like there's a chestnut-sized thingy at my throat; my heart sunk to the level of my belly button. Just hate the moments where we say "bye" on the mobile like we're gonna see each other tomorrow; but technically might not see each other ever again.

As I checked in and settled down at Manchester Airport, I started to prepare myself for home. It's simply amazing the things you see when you're alone and imagine that the whole world can't see you.

For example: Transit at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam: I sat beside a Hong Kong family(presumably as they were speaking Cantonese) of 7 having McDonalds. It was the perfect picture of a happy family - mother and baby boy smiling whilst eating French friends by the strand and mother wiping oil off him mouth; brother and sister laughing and fighting over who gets more chicken McNuggets; grandfather and grandmother sharing a silent moment and a McChicken burger; father arriving with the last tray full of large Coca-Colas'. Picture perfect.

Another example: On the flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, I sat beside an Indonesian mother and her daughter. The mother was teaching her daughter Kemahiran Hidup and as they discussed they shared moments of giggling.

I just got me thinking, that's all. When you see how peaceful and harmonious other families are - it just tend to outline the problems in my own family like... with caps lock on, in bold, size 72.