'Making A Connection' Can Mean More Than Just Your Flight

I actually stumbled upon another blog post here awhile ago that I immedately connected with. I'm not sure if it is just because I am an outgoing person, or if the airport really is some sort of magical place to make connections before your next departure, but I have always stumbled upon interesting characters in the airport. Even when exhausted and feeling inclusive, there is this oppertunity to people watch and take in another unusual persona even if for a brief moment. I went a bit beyond this on both directions to and from Thailand. So I thought I might share my airport connection stories from my past trip.

At one thirty in the morning in I'm-not-even-sure-who's-timezone I was standing next to an electronics charging station in the Toyko airport after my fifteen hour flight. To my left an older Indian woman walks up and asks if all the plugs are taken. They are, but I offered up mine since I had another two hours of my layover left. Shocked about her flawless English I inquired into where she was flying and why.

Turns out, prior to living in Asia she lived in the United States, where her children still lived. Her (daughter, I think it was) was getting married and she was traveling back to help out and attend the wedding. She was incredibly sweet and had an intriguing amount of life experience from random nooks and crannies from around the world. Apparently, an eighteen-year-old American on her own in Asia seemed a little more interesting to her as she interrogated me about my travels. Upon learning I was going to Thailand she gave me an ultimatium list. A list of things I had to do before I left. Just to humor her I created a digital post-it note on my desktop. She rushed off to her connection and I honestly do not remember much else about that connection. I was exhausted.

But I want to focus on the fact of what I do remember. I remember this very random social happenstance with a woman who I'm not sure I ever even asked her name. Now at the time we had a much more extensive conversation about where we were in our lives, but still. I remember her. And what is even stranger, is finding the post-it again after my trip and realizing that not only had I done or visited everything on the semi-intensive list, but they had been some of the most memorable parts of the trip. Things on the list included visiting Pattaya and Platinum Mall. At the time I scoffed at the Post-It. But looking back, some of my fondest memories came from places on the note. Unfortunately, I've since deleted it.