Have you seen the
cartoon TV show, “Dora the Explorer”? It is starred by a young Mexican girl,
Dora Marquez that tries and eventually succeeds in helping her new friends find
something on something through the help of her pet/best friend monkey, Boots.
Well it sounds funny and childish right? At the end of the show, Dora would
ask: what’s your favorite part of the trip?” Upon hearing this question, we
would often say it just an ordinary question requiring a simple answer. But if
we try to delve deeper, this query
covers an answer which is indubitably simple and heart penetrating as well.
Since
childhood, it has been my recurrent dream to travel anywhere-be it near or far.
I love to visit places that are new to my eyes even though they’re just a few
kilometers away. Meeting new kinds of people, adapting to different sorts of
environment and knowing more than the native culture and traditions are just a
few of the many things I really look forward and eventually enjoy whenever I go
travelling. Seeing a farmer trying to pull his best while striding barely on
mud in barrios or will it be a stout kakanin vendor trying to please the
passerby just to sell his/her delicacies. All of those seemed very nice to see
that I could almost say that most of my trip, this part is my most favorite. My
head kept on bringing that shallow principle. But it changed suddenly when…
As
a student, I am one of those fortunate ones that are sent free to far flung
places to represent the school in academic competitions. Aside from my
excitement to showcase my intellect, I’m also excited to explore these places.
From my provincial trips here in Bukidnon to national travel in the Philippines,
I can’t remember a day without my heart pumping with so much zest. I was very
excited every time I depart from our house. After arriving to the place where
the contest will be held, there were times when I had suffered from “biyahilo”.
But despite this fact, I was still restless and I couldn’t wait to explore more
the unfamiliar places.
But
you know what? During my first night, I had a difficulty in sleeping. I missed
my pillows. I longed for my stuff toys that I usually cuddle at night. I missed
my topsy-turvy room. In those sleepless hours, I had pondered and had also come
to realize what the greatest part of a trip is really.
The
meeting of new people, adapting to a new environment and knowing the vast
expanse of cultures and traditions are not totally the greatest part of a trip.
Probably, it is in GOING HOME where we can feel the best part of it. Home is
where we are loved, trusted and accepted no matter who we are. Home is a place
where one can be free from criticisms. It in hope that we can feel the greatest
and unfathomable amount of comfort, security, peace of mind, and most
especially happiness, things that new faces affordably can’t give. Even though
hoe beautiful a certain place is, still we are bound to find our home that
means most in our life, our home that witnessed our human existence, our home
that left an indelible mark in our heart.
After our short sojourn in those
faraway places, I finally went home. While we’re on our way in that trip, I
acted so nonchalant but deep inside I’m dying of longing for my family, my
home. That time I whispered, “There is certainly place like home”.
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