TROUBLE IN TRAVELLING TIMES

From Bordeaux to Costa Rica: Kindness, Waiting, and the Weight of the World


I left Bordeaux, where I’d been visiting my son, with plans to fly to Barcelona, then onward to New York and finally Costa Rica for a retreat. Everything was on track, until my New York flight was suddenly moved to the following day, leaving me stranded in Barcelona.

As I sit in the airport, watching the faces of travellers all around me , some excited, some weary, some impatient. I’m reminded of how interconnected our journeys are. Each person has a story, a destination, a hope, or a worry. Waiting in this liminal space, I feel both the tension of travel delays and the quiet moments of observation that travel so often offers.

During the chaos, Ikram, a truly wonderful Level airline staff member, stepped in to sort out my connections and ease the stress. Her kindness reminded me how much small acts of care can transform a difficult day.


Yet even as I find comfort in a temporary hotel and delicious meals, my thoughts drift to the broader world. The conflicts in the Middle East weigh heavily on me. I grew up traveling there as a child -through vibrant cities, breathtaking landscapes, and rich histories. 

Today, seeing these lands touched by turmoil fills me with sadness. While I wait safely in Barcelona, countless people live with daily uncertainty, danger, and displacement.

Travel teaches more than geography - it teaches empathy. It reminds us that our comforts often rely on the care of strangers, while our hearts carry the weight of those who cannot escape hardship.


And so I wait, Barcelona airport as my pause point, ready for the next installment: New York, then Costa Rica. I carry gratitude for the help I’ve received, awareness of struggles far beyond my path, and a commitment to stand in solidarity with women and families navigating conflict across the world..... see you in NY! 🀞

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