As others write about when they have less than a handful of weeks to go, there is so much to blog about near the end of a tour but no time. I hope to catch up afterwards. Our days are full of goodbyes and errands. The stuff I had two whole years to get done but for some reason waited until 10 days before we leave. On one of my trips around the city, waiting for a typical 5 minute light to change, I saw this view out the car window. It is not as fascinating online as in person, but it describes my state of mind right now, seeing beauty in the craziness of Kolkata. The layers of painted advertisements both commercial and political created a wonderful abstract image that could be a Jackson Pollock painting.
When we first arrived, I may have seen this as visual noise, now when I am out in the city I want to take pictures of every minute detail. How sentimental am I?
5 comments:
Saying good-bye...I am not very good at it, and it feels like we are saying, and feeling it, every day of late. Only 18 more days for us in Dubai and then we go back to the states, probably never to return to the Middle East. What's hard for us is saying good-bye to the places and the people, both friends and strangers, and saying good-bye to the us that we got to be while we were here. Better at hello, yes?
Beautiful photograph. Best of luck on your nextg adventure!
You are sentimental but that's a good thing, IMO. You've grown to appreciate Kolkata in a way a tourist, who spends only a week there never could.
That's what makes life in the Foreign Service so special!
Like that old song "Sentimental Journey", Natalie, you will take many journies to build happy memories.
It is interesting that when you know you will leave a place, sights and smells start becoming more acute. I feel like ever since we found out we would leave DC, I'm noticing new things all the time. I want to carry a camera around everywhere, even on my bus ride to work because everything is so interesting all of the sudden. Good luck on getting it all done before you take off!
I know exactly what you mean!!
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