On the road

Jack Karoueck  Carolien Laffeber

In the train, from Torino to Pordenone. A city not well known outside of Italy, because it has little touristic value… So they say. I’m about to find out if that’s true. It’s last big journey I will make during my time Italy. I will change houses, from Pordenone to Polcenigo, a town so small even the Italians don’t always know it, but these are not far from one another.

During the whole trip, which is mainly from the most western part of Northern Italy to the most Eastern part of Northern Italy, I have the snow capped mountains on the port side of the train and a blinding sun on the starboard side. The trip will take roughly 6 hours, so I have some time to catch up on my writing, edit some photo’s and read.

For the first time during this adventure I felt sad to leave the house, the family, the city. Off course the Milanese family had been very welcoming and the city of Firenze was very beautiful and I made some special friends there, but Torino offered something different. I felt like a part of their family, and as their family was part of a big group of friends, I felt a little bit part of that group as well. And I realized how I miss being a part of something, being a part of a group. These feelings made me want to stay and settle down in this city with these people there and then. Their week in Holland was one of my special weeks, it’s something this family surrounds, the magic of being able to truly love and share. I will cherish my memories and I hope one day I can return the favor to them.

As always I got nervous before departure, packing the bags always seems to evoke muscle aches in my legs and arms, even though it’s very temporary. This would be an interesting subject for the people doing the minor ‘Body and soul’ at the HAN, but to me it’s interesting to find out where it comes from and how I can reduce it.

As said before, I’m in the train, the second one, as I have two places to transfer trains. The first was at Milano Central Station and the second is in Venezia. And as I speed through the country I realize there’s no muscle aches, there are practically no nerves, and actually I feel kind of happy. And just like that I realize: I like travelling! 

This was something I didn't know, since I've never traveled before. I like sitting in a car/train/airplane on my way towards a new destination, knowing you've got everything you can under control and knowing your destination (undestinated traveling is an adventure that will have to wait). I love the feeling of excitement, of new experiences to come, new people to meet, new places to see, new things to learn…

… and again I realize how privileged I am to be on this journey. I am thankful to everyone who made this possible: my parents and friends for supporting me; all the families that help me realize this dream, but above all… I am thankful I allowed myself this great gift.