coming home

I was in Italy for a week and just got back to Cambridge, UK. Arriving at the train station and driving through the city to my apartment in an Uber was a nice experience. A city I visited for the first time only three months ago, which felt so foreign back then, now feels so familiar.

I recognize the routes, can easily orient myself, and feel the local vibe. The same happened to me in Taiwan and Australia after living there for several months. Locations that were once completely foreign now feel known and comforting. The strongest moment I feel this is when I return.

There’s a unique pleasure in this familiarity. It transforms a place into something personal and intimate.

It's a beautiful realization that no matter where life takes me, I can navigate my surroundings and find a sense of belonging.

The places I've called my temporary home become part of who I am. Each environment adds to my understanding of the world and myself.