Airports

They say that you perceive things differently as you grow older and most of the time these perceptions change due to an external force.

Growing up, my perception of airports was somewhat traumatic. My dad worked as a seaman for more than half of my life; eight to 10-month contracts on-board with two months vacation on a regular basis for 17 years. I also have several relatives in Australia that I only got to see only once or twice – if at all. Having these people surround me during my childhood exposed me to frequent airport visits.

So, what made airport experience traumatic?

There were several factors: 1) the drive to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) equals bumper-to-bumper situations; 2) airport snacks were quite expensive; 3) waiting for two hours is too long for a child – until I was a little bit over 13, I could only see people when they arrived at our house because only the adults usually picked them up. However, these reasons are petty. Leaving the Philippines made these reasons pettier.

Ever since my family came to Winnipeg in 2006, I have only been to the airport once. Although I have had several relatives that immigrated after us, I preferred to stay at home. For me, airports are one-way streets – people go to the airport to leave from some place. Airports evoke sadness because this is where you only see the backs of people departing. It has the same atmosphere of funerals and burials for me.

Despite this seeming phobia of airports, I pushed myself to pick-up my significant other when he came to visit Winnipeg. This significant stand-alone moment in my life changed my perception of airports. I just realized that airports could now be added to my life’s list of paradoxes.

Airports are like birthdays signifying both life and death at the same time. The moment someone is born is also the moment his fate to die is sealed. Airports are like that: if someone arrives, then he’s also bound to depart from the same exact location. From dust to dust…

But the arrival and the departure should not really be the deciding factors whether a trip has been good or not. What happens in between the two polar opposites should bear the most weight on someone.

My significant other’s arrival made me happy. His departure made me unhappy. However, the time we spent together between those two instances made me realize that airports are just places. They are just places that evoke extreme emotions, but they should not drive the whole story line. The climax of a trip does not happen in the airport.

I finally fathomed two things that I did not when I was younger: airports have arrival ports, and what happens in-between the arrival and departure is what counts the most.

Although the realization came a little bit later than I would have wanted, I am still glad because I can re-encourage myself to make my stay worthwhile. It does not matter when I am going to depart (if I ever do), but I should make the best of the in-between of my arrival and departure.

Kezia wants to thank everyone who made her significant other feel welcome during his Winnipeg stay.

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