Welcome to England

TJ’s home is a timeless, nationless place, like airports and hotel lobbies. The halls are windowless and lined with florescent lights that never shut off, so when walking them, you never know what time it is or whether it’s day or night. This is the life of med-students and hospital workers.

I’m proud that I slept till 5:38am, the latest since my return from India. Of course, I had only two mornings in Paris—each welcoming days that were both too short and too long. On day three, I’m trying to analyze what I’m feeling.

And I have no idea. I’m preparing for the most incredible conference of my life—three days at the Skoll World Forum with social entrepreneurs who are solving the world’s toughest problems in the most innovative ways. I’ve wanted to be one of the lucky 600 guests for years… and finally, it’s here. But all I can think about is India.

Obviously, in the heart of gray European metropolises, I miss the colors and warmth, the green and the Life. I miss the people, because that’s what really makes a place. I miss the constant buzz of everyone always doing things or at least analyzing how the building of a better community is progressing. I miss the philosophies: the attitudes on money, work, life, cité, etc. I miss the pace—nothing is more sure than tea time. I miss eating with my hands and waking up to chipmunks and wet willies. And above all I miss the energy; the world seems so charged in India and so drained everywhere else. There, you can just Be. Here, you must prove everything.

Plus, I'm back to wearing boots and high heels that give me blisters... so I also miss life in barefoot.

Then I think about what I have to show for 14 weeks in India. I quit my job and my school. I stopped talking to people who had long fueled me. I lost track of the latest news on social entrepreneurship, and I’m poorly prepared to meet the most amazing social entrepreneurs in the world. (At least India gave me inexpensive business cards!) I returned with more scars than I can count, a rash, an illness, and no health insurance. I’m jet lagged and weak in timeless, nationless, place.

At least I’m amongst doctors.

But don’t worry folks: I have a plan hatching. Always, always a Dream… or two. :)


To Oxford we go!