People

I arrived at La Guardia International Airport last Wednesday on a sunny and lovely summer day with lots of expectations. However, my mind took a little more time to leave my country and reach NYC. So I felt as if I were caught in a dream but with the ability to think rationally. You know that epic song by Freddie Mercury, 'Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?' Well. Everything looked familiar but at the same time nothing seemed real for me. I couldn't take my eyes off of the bus window during the entire ride to the hostel. I looked out the window as wonderingly as though I had just landed on another planet. Everything was so high! Everything was so... so.

Unfortunately, the following days went from being a dream to becoming a kind of nightmare. I had never felt that way before: having no place to live. I had come here with the idea that looking for a place was no big deal. However, as days went by, I noticed how wrong I was... everyday seemed more difficult, and although I was surrounded by millions of people, I felt fragile and alone, reminding me how tiny we actually are. I wasn't able to enjoy everything I was experiencing. Anyway being here was a great thing, so I thought to myself, how could such opposed feelings coexist?  

When you are alone for more than 3 or 4 days, your mind gets used to thinking twice as fast as before. Given that everything remains inside your head, you can't actually filter anything. Heaps of ideas, places, colors, tastes and feelings end mixed up in a single nebula of thoughts. I am convinced
that everything happens for a reason. So yesterday, when I was on the verge of a panic attack and this nebula was about to explode, I sat on a rock in the middle of the Central Park and tried to clear my mind. I kind of organized my head, and I realized that the whole situation had to have a meaning. I mean, I was sure that something was trying to show me something. There was a little thing out there which I wasn't able to see.

And suddenly it came out. He, she, they... my people, the people. So easy it was. Tons of people from all over the world, connected by relatives, friends, siblings, whatever, even people that didn't actually know me directly, all of them were there for me: checking their contact lists and sending emails, calling more people, moving their feet, spending time from their lifes just for me, all willing to help me find a place to live. I felt a blast of energy, if I can say it that way. I thought 'how will I thank them?' They are so nice, and they are sooo many...

And someone told me this morning (after I finally got a place and things started to settle down and find their way): «don't worry... it's time to harvest love». And she was right, oh yes she was. I think there are specific moments in life when love just pops in... and they aren't exactly many. So, thank you people, for all your love. I will be forever grateful. And thank you life, because even though I felt terrible the last days, it was another great lesson.