Travel update
A new country, a new book
Hello from Germany! 🇩🇪
I am now two weeks into my five-week tour de Europe and am feeling happier and freer than I have in a very long while. This trip is reminding me of my self-sufficiency, my independence—reminding me that I’m still capable.
Living in Japan, where I don’t speak the language well enough, leaves me dependent on others and keeps me from doing things like going to the doctor because I don’t want a third party involved in something so private. I need help making appointments, going to the bank and post office. Even if I had a driver’s license, I likely wouldn’t drive because if I got pulled over or got a flat tire, I don’t have the language skills to deal with either scenario.
My freedom and independence have been significantly restricted. But being in Europe, being in charge of my itinerary and getting from one destination to another and being able to communicate in languages I can speak has been incredibly empowering. I have always been a very independent person, but in Japan I have reverted to infancy and illiteracy.
I have also got my sparkle back. Something has been affirmed for me that I have known but is still nice to have confirmation of: I’m not a depressed homebody, I do enjoy human connection and chatting with strangers, and my happiness and creativity that I thought I had lost has just been stifled living somewhere and being stuck in a situation that, diplomatically speaking, no longer serves me.
I feel like I have finally come home to myself.
May book club pick 📕
I’m looking forward to this month’s book club pick The Door by Magda Szabó. The novel is set in Budapest, where I will be staying when I start reading it! It’s about a writer, and I love books about writers. For a fully synopsis, click here.
If you want to cheat and not read the book, or if you simply wish to compare them, you can watch the 2012 film version with Helen Mirren. Click here for the trailer.
Of course, I do encourage you to join me in reading the novel as Magda Szabó is the most translated Hungarian author as well as a major figure in Hungarian literature, with many of her works being taught in Hungarian classrooms and adapted into films.
Let’s get personal ❤️
I wrote a little travel essay on my other publication Musings & Meanderings, which I invite you to check out by clicking here if you’re interested. It’s a more personal look into me and my life. I created that space for more vulnerable and candid writing, putting myself out there in a way I don’t normally do publicly—and to be honest that’s kind of scary. So be nice!🙈
Happy Reading!
Morgan