lost in the future

The one big feat of International travel is....International travel. The fact of it actually happening is a result of months and months of planning, lots of money, preparation, and if you are saying goodbye to loved ones, a handful of sleepless nights full of jittery stomachs and mixed feelings.



Throwing a dog into the mix makes it even more complicated. After two weeks of having Nina in my life, I definitely want to take her home. It is possible. But involves only taking United Airlines, getting vaccines given only by a government veterinarian, exportation papers, registration, a kennel for the airplane that I hope manifests itself in the nearby pet shop. Of course, (I've recently found) there are agencies in Beijing who will happily be your pet exportation agent, in exchange for a bundle of money. Thankfully, importation into the US isn't so strict. I went to a local Vet today who gave Nina her Rabie's vaccination and who told me he can help me get these papers... I'm keeping my fingers crossed.



One of my life and spiritual practices is Being In The Moment, but international travel makes it impossible. The process of deciding to leave a place, dealing with one's belongings, selling, giving away, saying goodbye to friends, while also setting up a place to live, work and be, in the arrival city is beyond stressful, and makes my mind completely lost in the future.



From experience I've learned that there is a big difference between a well planned trip and a poorly planned trip. I've also learned that I experience the most confusion, sorrow and culture shock on arrival back into my hometown. Arriving in a new place always contains the sparkle and glimmer of adventure. It's returning and reflecting and deciding what to do next--that is hard.



In being a smart, thoughtful, young woman (thank you, thank you) I desperately and hopefully want to plan and execute a good trip back home. I hate that instead of practicing Chinese, or going for a walk, or communicating with my students, I'm worrying about travel preparations in 4 months. In my future, more evolved, sophisticated and richer self, I will hire someone to do all this future worrying and planning for me.



So officially, I am coming back to Albuquerque sometime in July, with Ned, and hopefully most hopefully, with Nina, too.



I'm done. Sorry, can't think or write about the future anymore....a time and place that doesn't exist anyway.