After a visit to New York City and Providence, I returned to my home in Illinois for a few days. I unpacked and packed getting ready to set out for a four month stay in Berlin. Packing has always been an odd process for me. It's so physically a representation of transition. One has to analytically look at what he has gathered for himself, look at his possessions, and decide what he will need for his next passage, what he can do without for the time being, and what he can do without forever more. It can send a person reeling into anxiety. It can also catalyze a purge, a cathartic cleanse. It is an opportunity for one to analyze himself, prompted by his possessions. What have I gathered for myself and why? What must I bring with me on my next endeavors and why? Where am I going, do I care for this anymore, do I need this, did I need this? It can allow a person to see and make resolutions to improve his lifestyle. In short, I feel confident with my pack-age for this trip. I have myself assembled into two bags. With myself assembled, I am ready to mingle and mesh. I am ready to hold my foundation while allowing those I meet to help me sketch blueprints for my renovations. I am ready to observe and participate, to listen and share, to converse, to define.
