Even world travellers cry sometimes

Leaving was a little bit tough today. Well, today at 4am everything seemed tough but leaving the homeland and my chicken sandwich wielding mother and my travel partner behind felt strange.  I have travelled a few times without Nathan but not for this long and not to anywhere near as new to us as Nepal.  My niece Grace gave me a nice handwritten note that says "BIY BIY I WILL MIS YOU ANT ASHLE AND UKUL NATHIN" which was written just jagged enough to mimic some death threats I've seen in movies so maybe it's time I got out of town anyway?

Nathan, Grace the little note writer, Me and my Dad.

At any rate, I am feeling good, excited even. I'm in Philly listening to loud Bawston-like accents, animated conversations by airport staff about how the basketball team played last week versus this week, I have a New York Times in one hand and an oversized coffee in the other.  I've read up on how to be a conscientious traveller with a mind open to new ways of being and a heart ready to handle risk, change, and being uncomfortable. In fact, this particular Traveller’s Mindset mantra says explicitly “learn to think of being uncomfortable fun” which according to a blog I read on “how to survive the Kathmandu airport” will be a necessary way of being in a short while!

That's all for now,  just a little update to pass the time before a long haul over the big blue ocean.