On the left site the biggest lake I have ever seen, half frozen and on my right side a mountain full of snow. Everything is white and seemingly untouched by humanity. I imagine this is where children from the US believe their Santa Claus lives. I am somewhere in between Montreal and New York in a train, staring at the fairytale like landscapes. Listening Tori sing. Reflecting.
I am on my way to New York where I am going to spend a whole week doing whatever I want to do. I don’t really have a plan, but I do have the right mindset and a place to stay in the middle of Manhattan (thank you Judith and Marlieke!). This is what freedom feels like.
I would love to just enjoy this moment, but my mind seems to keep wandering of, getting occupied with complicated and sometimes troubled thoughts. I was so busy with my studies the past three months I felt like being on an unstoppable train. And now, here I am: on the train again, though this time the literal version and on vacation. Of course all this sudden freedom makes me think! Finally, I have time to look back on the past couple of crazy months. It seems a good time for some reflection.
In a way the world seems to make more and more sense to me. Or maybe I should say that my place and the path I will go in this world become clearer to me. I think it is safe to say that I am doing something I love and might even be pretty good at (I finished my fist semester with all A’s). I moved into a new apartment where I celebrated an incredible Christmas with my roommates and some of our friends. I feel very lucky to have met these girls and that they took me in to what will be my home for the next one and a half years. It is a home full with love, where I feel welcome and at ease. And then on top of all this goodness there is the unconditional support and love I receive from my loved ones back home, especially from my parents, which makes me feel I can do anything. Nothing left to wish for.
At the same time I realize how lucky I am, I feel myself confronted again with the fact that this is not the same for everyone. Last time I wrote about this injustice and I want to thank my dad and my roommates for answering to the wish I expressed. You give me hope by showing me I do have an influence on people in my own little world. Thank you very much! And keep passing it forward, just like in that fantastic movie ‘with similar title. 
1 reactie
Hoi Farah,
Zoals we al gehoord hebben heb je het naar je zin in “The city that never sleeps”.
ik ben beneiuwd hoe je de jaarwisseling daar hebt beleefd.
Vaklantie hier is al weer voorbij. Volgens mij ben jij ook weer aan de slag.
In ieder geval wens ik je een heel voorsp[oedig en intens 2010
Kus
Papa