A couple of years ago, I was sitting on a plane to Vietnam with an empty heart however full of thoughts running in my head. There was no exact description of what I felt when I left Dubai that day, 5 years ago. The mixed emotions and excitement was unexpectedly unbearable. There was a moment of anxiety and feeling lost as I got on the plane. I didn't know exactly why I was moving to Vietnam. I have built myself a world in the Middle East that for a while somehow It confused me if it was home. It was infact home for a while and then I woke up one day asking myself "Where is home?", so, suddenly like a lighting that struck my head there was a need to get out of Dubai. I didn't understand at first the sudden excitement and the rush to leave Dubai. Was it the traffic? my career? my boyfriend at the time? What? All I knew was I need to breath and moving was first on my agenda that year. They said, there is always something that comes up every 7 years of your life. I didn't believe this at that time, who would? But looking back somehow, it made sense.
Anyway, I moved to Vietnam! It was not something I had expected but the changed made my mind busy but my life upside down! Life run like a rollercoaster for a while but the world changed forever for me. Initially when I was settling down with my new job I was always on the move, restless and was continuously challenged by the new unexplored world. Some days I was lonely, other days I was excited, some days I was wishful and most days I was uncertain. I did worked my ass out, mainly pacifying myself from loneliness. I missed bar hopping, my weekly shopping, picnic with friends on the beach and I missed the comfort of having my feet on the ground. For a while it was like wading in a river against its current, there was a huge responsibility in front of me and suddenly created more responsibility that what I was supposed to do or came there for. Half way through I was frustrated, i realized then that i was moving at a rate as if I was still in Dubai and people around me was moving in a tiptoe while I was dragging myself all over the place back and forth. Asia was a much slower pace than where I was and used to. I had to learn to slow down, everyday was a surprise - there is always something new to learn and laugh about when things aren't what you expect it to be in a your normal world. Slowly I learned to be more patient and humble. It is indeed a virtue!
As days passed by I forgot my weekly shopping activity, my flat on the 15th floor overlooking Dubai skyline which I guess to this day it is already blocked by hundreds of towering new buildings, my 137 pairs of shoes and my bags collection! Indeed I shared this prestigious achievement with Imelda Marcos. As if overnight, I learned to appreciate the simple things in life, that a simple sunrise and sunset is all that I look forward to everyday. In a moment, i didnt feel lost anymore. I understand what it felt to be alive and appreciate the simple things in life. Thank you Vietnam for this great feeling of life!
But like anything, Vietnam was a temporary permanence, I was programmed to stay only a year and had to move on again however, this time I was not uncertain anymore, I know where I have to go and that is Home! Really I know where it is now. I'm glad Vietnam has given me that clarity, for the first time in my life I kind of know where my Home is. Goodbye my Vietnamese friends,I'm going home! See you again!
