Homesick At Incheon Airport
Sunday, May 6th, 2007
The Seoul trip was my first outside the Philippines. I was the only non-Korean passenger in the plane. The Filipina stewardesses were reminders to all that’s familiar and my only link back home. At Incheon airport, I fell in line for immigration. It was beautiful and modern and huge, and full of passengers from all over the world, speaking in different languages.
I scanned the airport not to admire its beauty or sophistication but to look for another Filipino. I saw white skinned, black skinned, dark skinned, yellow skinned and probably purple skinned people, but not a single brown skinned soul. I was homesick! I never felt such intense longing and love and connection to my country and family than that moment.
I realized that there is no other country for me more beautiful than the Philippines, and that there are no other people better for me than the Filipinos. And that wherever I go, I will always look to the direction where my heart belongs – HOME!
POSTSCRIPT: Seoul is fascinating and vibrant. Three weeks is not enough. I would have wanted to stay longer, be with all TFT participants more, and more chopsticks practice. Ironically, I felt like not going back home!
