I arrived back in the city alone with a small bag, feeling surprisingly at home. I had every reason to feel displaced, and I braced myself for a surge of loneliness. It never really came. I spent all week seeing friends and the weekend reading books by myself at my new place. It was a relief to finally have the freedom to do nothing in my own personal space.
I haven’t quite stopped moving since I left Shanghai last summer. Since then I’ve built cozy little homes in/around Beijing, Korea, Yunnan, Brooklyn, and Vietnam. The truth is that I’d do it all over again.
I used to buy vegetables and dumpling skins at this wet market.
On Sunday, I was interviewed by one of my graduate program colleagues about my early life history. Listening to her calming voice, I reached far back into my memories. Then I panicked. I remembered always having a bedroom in a safe home, and friends and family. Sometimes I even had pets. But I couldn’t place them on a geographic map or a chronological timeline. Memories aren’t linear.
I thought about it for a long time afterwards. Home is not really a physical place, is it?
It’s the people, the conversations, the meals you’ve shared. The street you walked on, day after day.
19 Comments
Jenny
September 13, 2012 at 11:17 amNo truer words. And such beautiful accompanying photos!
Anabella
September 13, 2012 at 11:21 amAw sewon, I love this post, especially you’re concept of memories and home. I miss blogging these days, taking photos and sharing them, reflecting and writing. You are always so inspiring.
Ramona
September 13, 2012 at 11:40 amNice thoughts about home
Veronica Fish
September 13, 2012 at 12:29 pmWhat an amazing life you lead!
Koey
September 13, 2012 at 1:43 pmThat’s so true, Sewon. Home is not simply a place named, “Home”.
Sometimes even if I’m at home, I couldn’t feel homed. But, sometimes, when I’m in somewhere outside home, I feel homed. The feeling of “Home” is complicated.
Marlou
September 13, 2012 at 3:04 pmLovely pictures, and even lovelier words.
🙂
maya
September 13, 2012 at 3:57 pmthis post is so relevant to me right now, thank you for speaking the words i can’t seem to put down.
xx
ねこちゃん
September 13, 2012 at 5:39 pmI like the dreamy atmosphere of your pictures Sewon 🙂 Your thoughts about memory sound so familiar! home is where my heart is at home… 🙂
felicia jade
September 13, 2012 at 7:02 pmAnother well written entry! And I absolutely love your photographs.
Rina
September 13, 2012 at 8:56 pmSeWon!
Great to hear from you! I totally agree, home does not always have to be a geographical place (although, for some people, it might be).
I’ve only lived in one city my whole life, so far. I hope that maybe one day, I can have many “homes”.
I love all these photos, as always. They bring up very familiar feelings. 🙂
Eileen黃愛玲
September 14, 2012 at 2:13 amI can honestly relate. I am now living in Taipei and I will officially be a resident very soon. 12 hour time difference from where I used to live. 🙂
Greta
September 14, 2012 at 3:21 amSuch nice words and beautiful photos! I can really relate to what you are saying and it feels comforting to read it.
winnie
September 14, 2012 at 9:43 amI love this post and you make me long to travel, to explore parts of the world that I’ve only ever dreamed out. I couldn’t agree more that home is not always a physical place. I felt that when I moved from my childhood home and realised that it’s just a house and what makes ‘home’ are the sweet memories and people around you.
coco
September 15, 2012 at 1:45 ambook exchange will be fun and i look forward to.
Renna
September 16, 2012 at 10:42 amTotally agree about home, Sewon! What kind of graduate program are you doing in NYC? Hope all is well 🙂
Emmie Rae
September 17, 2012 at 2:48 amYour words are as beautiful as your photographs. Every post is a favourite for me! x
Crystal
September 18, 2012 at 12:47 amI love your photos and your words! They are so true.
J DUBBS
September 22, 2012 at 12:01 pmI want to travel with you one day
Ceri
September 24, 2012 at 10:13 am“I thought about it for a long time afterwards. Home is not really a physical place, is it?
It’s the people, the conversations, the meals you’ve shared. The street you walked on, day after day.”
This is so perfect. 🙂 I completely agree.
I’ll be heading to New York for a week or two next Easter. I can’t wait to experience it firsthand. 🙂