Well, the first leg of the journey has passed without any trouble - except for spilling chicken and broccoli sauce all over my lap while eating some Chinese food during my layover in Newark. If that's my biggest problem, then I have no problems. I'm still waiting to get my phone unlock code from AT&T (formerly Cingular, formerly AT&T, formerly who knows what else) so I'll be able to use it while I'm overseas; it's a minor hassle that I haven't received it yet, but again, no big deal. I got everything packed (at least... I think I did) without any trouble, and Mom was gracious enough to drop me off at the Portland airport.

You know what I think I miss most since all of the post-9/11 security measures have been implemented? Airport goodbyes. It's just not the same saying goodbye at the drop-off zone outside of security. Maybe it's just an over-realized sense of nostalgia on my part, but it does seem as though saying goodbye (or saying hello, for that matter) at the actual gate has a much more poignant and emotional feel to it.

I'm always amazed at jut how big, busy, and filed with people airports are. We are more connected, more mobile, and able to communicate with more people in more ways in more places than ever before in recorded human history... but have we ever been more alone? I'm surrounded by people right now, but am just another piece in their nameless, unnoticed panorama. It's a simultaneously frightening and liberating feeling to be anonymous. If nothing else, it serves to deepen my thirst for true community, whatever that really is. That's something I hope to experience and observe over the course of this summer.