Finding joy in airports

I love airports, anyone that knows me well can be sure of that. The moment I enter through the airport doors I take in the sight of busy people rushing to and fro dragging along multiple suitcases and luggages, people embracing as they say farewell, or people catching a bite at the cafe near the terminal. I love the environment of the airport, which is akin to that of a large city (without the auto vehicles and pollution, of course).

So many different people, so many different languages, so many different destinations, so many different stories. Airports fascinate me in that so much is unknown. I might see families hugging, lovers kissing, friends crying, or colleagues shaking hands and still have no idea about what’s going on in their lives. A person could be returning from a long summer vacation, or they’re about to head out on a business trip across the country. Who knows? The novelty of airports derives from this aura of mystery.

But the biggest reason of why I love airports is that it’s always a sign of traveling for me. I head to the airport once a year to fly out of the country to visit relatives. My trips are always fun and exciting, and these ecstatic feelings have contributed to my fascination and love for  airports, which I associate with traveling. I haven’t traveled as much of the world as I’d like to, but enough to give me a taste of all of the amazing and diverse array of cultures and people out there. The inner wanderer in me yearns to go to Amsterdam, Paris, London, and other parts of Europe. The inner wanderer in me wants to go to Mexico, and Singapore, and Australia. The inner wanderer in me wants to see the world in its entirety, learn numerous languages, and meet as many people as possible.

To satisfy this hunger of mine, I read about all these different places from the eyes of first-hand tourists who write about their experiences in travel magazines such as the National Geographic Traveler or in the travel section of the New York Times newspaper.

Though I know it may not be possible for me to travel to every place I want to in the near future, given all the required money and time, it’s nice to dream about it. And for now, I’m happy enough to read about the experiences of other travelers and contemplate about airports.