A Journey Away

The airplane landed on the hard tarmac of the airport. As I sat in my seat, anxious to get out of the plane, looking out of the window at the vast Australian climate. The landscape was gorgeous, the golden sunlight lighting up the hills as the native animals flocked freely. Waiting patiently as we drove down the gravel road towards my grandparent’s farm. The smell of the earth was fresh, a smell you could only dream of. My Granny was waiting on the porch, waiting to greet us, she looked very excited. My Grandad was waiting beside her. My cousins in which I had been calling and playing videogames with them, only dreaming when the next time I could see them, came running out of the door as they only lived 40 minutes away in Melbourne. Lachie, Milly, and Katie, relatively the same age as me, ran towards the car and were the first to greet us. For a moment it felt as if all of the distance between us vanished. From South Africa, Australia, and Ohio, we were all united once again. That night we had a large family dinner with the entire group. After dinner, we ran outside and threw the rugby ball as well as playing cricket. The garden gave off the most lovely smell on the planet. The trees slowly rocked side to side as the sun set over the pond. I finally felt connected with my far-away family. The next morning, we helped my Grandma plant flowers in the garden. The plants smelled like fresh strawberries and they looked like they were fake. My Grandpa’s task was hunting due to the large amount of animals that destroyed the farm as well as the dangerous snakes and animals. Sports were a huge competition during the day. Rugby and cricket was treated as if it were the championship. I would always tease Lachie when he would miss a play. By the time it got dark, Granny’s famous chocolate cake would fill the house with its scent. It created a core memory of my family far-away. It also reminded me why these visits were important as they were not just pixels on a screen but people who care and love for each other. 

The summer I went to South Africa was totally different but just as spectacular and unforgettable. My family and I flew into Johannesburg, SA. As we landed, I vividly remember the security taking us straight into a car which was escorted by a couple of vans. It made me uneasy because I had never been in an environment in which there was active danger roaming around. I boarded a small plane which then took us to Durban where I met family I had never seen before. The ocean created waves which harshly crashed against the rocks just outside of the hotel. The sweet smell of the salty ocean still lingers in my nose. After connecting and bonding with my new family, we went on two helicopters to a wedding in which I was attending for my second cousins who live in Northern South Africa. After meeting all of these people it made me ponder about the experience I am getting and how many people care for me. I had never met most of my extended family, but seeing them for the first time felt as if I stepped into a new world. After the wedding, the journey continued with a safari with my extended family. A little single engine turbo-prop aircraft carried over the vast climate into the tip of South Africa. The drive to the area felt as if I had entered a new planet. Elephants and giraffes casually walk by as I sit in shock wondering if this is safe. It made me realize, what else am I missing in my life? After meeting more family than I have ever met in my entire life, I feel disconnected. But the re-assurance I got from the family who is supporting, made me feel at home. 

On the plane back, I stared at the misty white clouds below, feeling the stretch of thousands of miles. I realized that no matter how far away they were, my family wasn’t gone. They were still in my heart, like the flowers in my Granny’s garden.