He introduced me to a person working at the airport, at another terminal, on another side of the airport. I thought he was known, but as he explained later, no one knows anyone. It is just common ground, a bond they share. He helped me navigate the airport and directed me to the right lines, maybe trespassing some of the lines. A bit of small talk, a shared feeling of trying to belong, overcome, and grow. We bid goodbye.

On the flight, a few hours long, I forgot to order a vegetarian meal (the default ones are not vegetarian ). And me saying my typical, issokay; knowing it was my mistake. And the kind air hostess somehow found a vegetarian meal. I checked the sticker, and it said, for the staff. You know, lovely enough to share that meal with me.

I landed around night with no internet connection, two college students studying nearby, waiting for the luggage, and helping me book a cab. The kind cab driver, who instantly felt like a warm person. All these people are strangers but good kind ones. I reach the dorm, is it the right place, asks the cab driver. He waits until he is sure; he has dropped me at the right place.

Three huge bags, just 30-36 hours of a journey, and a new unknown, asking me if I needed help. Showing me to the room, wait, how do these curtains work, another person helping me. Wait, how do the road signs work? A lot of random people helped me navigate, always reaching the right place. Zebra crossing, people stopping, waving, go ahead, cross the road please, crowds, people moving aside, helping navigate the complex maze. Some kind souls back home, supporting everything all through. Don’t worry we will manage; all good words, so many wishes, and lots of good luck!

No books carried here, new people, so many books shared, someone’s favorite read. A department I just went to, and the lady was like go ahead, just take the books home, whichever ones you want. With someone’s favorite tea shared, the good old snack, someone else’s chocolates, or someone else’s food which seemed so close to your own home, or someone else’s home, which felt like a place, maybe you could fall asleep, almost like a home. Shared breakfasts, borrowed umbrellas, the good old chai, lovely walks, a lot of green, and some piano while you read. The instructor hugged as grandma did at home. The old lady smiled and said pretty dress. The cute little kid at the mobile store, the smiley kiddos playing in the park, the kind strangers on trains, just new people you met during the orientation, sharing the favorite choco-chip cookie from their meal, you know because you liked it so much. The good cab driver who waited until you found the cab, close to getting lost; warning you to be careful with the address next time. The good old friends, talks, food, and a shared deeper understanding. The kind person at the desk, who wanted not to go out at night. The lovely memorial, with green lights, a calming presence, right across the window. New stories, of being loved, of lost loves, lives, some knowns, new unknowns, sadness, joy, and their struggle through it all. The good old universe, some new friends made, the sky, and the peace of the new churches. All new faces, but a whole lot of vibes, vibes of warmth, quite close to home.

Almost like the whole universe, a lot of good people, helping navigate through, just one more day, you know to be alive, live, love, and meet some more goodness, maybe for one more day!