Since My Best-friend is Also Coming Here Soon--How I felt When I first Visited Creighton in October 2004

I landed, got off the plane, and stepped into an entirely different world inside that heated terminal. Outside, I could see green such that I had never seen before outside of my crayon box. The air clung to me, a warm blanket I could not take off. I wanted to cry. I imagine this must have been how I felt leaving the womb. I came from a warm safe place protected and loved by family into a world that could cover me with snow, chill me to the bone, strike fear or pain into me unlike I had ever known.

Yet, I wanted to open my eyes wide, take in everything, feel it through my bare hands and my yearning tasteless tongue. I knew nothing of this world and instantly wanted it to be like my old one. I wanted long term relationships, I wanted places that meant something to me, I wanted to feel at home.

I have settled for unknown roads, and people I do not know but who are so friendly that they seem to know me. They speak a different language here, English, and I am nearly fluent now. Everything is different, and I cannot say it was all for good, but some was, and that's good too.