Sri Lanka - 2 days until departure

I'm on the train for the last working day of this year. Today is Thursday and I'm going to Zurich for the last time. And I don't even want to think about the seminar. I would love to just wallow in anticipation. Thinking about our backpack. See if all the tickets are printed out. Charge the camera batteries and go through everything again in my mind. Only one more day. It can be done. While I'm in the seminar, I don't think about it and am completely with my participants. Because: I love my work.

On the train journey I allow myself a few dreams. I dream myself to the airport. How we meet as a family. The four of us standing there with our backpacks, checking in, so excited we can't wait. How we play cards to make the time seem shorter. How we take out our passports and get on the plane. I dream of us making ourselves comfortable.

And I dream of how we land in Dubai on Christmas Day. Father Christmas is walking through the Dubai airport mall and giving away sweets to all the children and the young at heart. We are beaming despite being overtired. We can't read many of the Arabic characters. I feel like I'm in another world and wish I could surrender to the flow.

And then it's off to the last leg. We fly towards Colombo and look out of the window. See beaches, see green forests. And when we get off the plane, I feel the warmth and wish that we are all well. That I tolerate the heat well and that we find our way quickly to our hotel. I am intoxicated by warmth, overtiredness, unfamiliar scents, the hustle and bustle of a big city and see many characters that I cannot read but find beautiful.

I am in great anticipation. And I am curious. And a little uncertain. What will our journey bring? Will we get along well? Will our travel wishes fit together? And above all: will the food taste good?

Oh, I am quite jittery. And I am happy and grateful to be able to make this journey with my loved ones.

I am grateful and feel richly blessed by life.

Sri Lanka - One day to go until departure

So, all packed. Our backpacks are ready, clothes and shoes packed, all cables, chargers tested and tied up. This time we are travelling with 3 pieces of hand luggage and a 48 litre backpack to check in.

Tonight I made some baked apples. One for each and nicely packed in jars. On the way, I'm sure I'll find someone to warm the baked apples for me. That way we can celebrate "our" traditional Christmas at the airport.

Today I had imagined the atmosphere to be a bit nicer. More romantic. The day before the holidays. Somehow I feel resentment though, I'm not sure if I feel it in myself or with Gerd. Or about the fact that I feel I have to do everything. I even packed Gerd's rucksack. I have a knob in my stomach.

Now I was in the bathroom and treated myself to some rest, warmth and an audio book. I hope I'll feel a little better soon.

Now it's off to bed and then a quick sleep, tomorrow we're off on the big trip. To Asia. We've all never been to Asia. I'm excited. I really am. And hope that I like it.

Now all I need is for my toothache and sniffles to go away. That would be great.

Shownotes for iTunes: https://www.leben-pur.ch/folge-001-text/