Entry #26 / 18th July 2022
When I returned to the university campus, I learned that some people who went to Philadelphia for the day didn’t get back until midnight or even the early hours of the morning. This meant they’d be hella tired for Monday’s workday.
I’m super-duper glad I went for the weekend now.
When Monday morning rolled around, and we were all gathered under the camp tents for breakfast, I stopped by the few that returned so late and asked them how Philadelphia was for them.
“It was alright.” One of them said.
“Not much to see.” Said another.
My jaw hit the ground so hard that there was probably a dent. “What are you on about? It was amazing!”
It didn’t take me long to figure out and understand that they not only didn’t do half the things I experienced in Philadelphia (which, fair, they were only there for the day), but they probably didn’t have any of the emotional revelations as I did.
(Which, fair, again.)
As we ate breakfast and chatted amongst themselves (me mainly keeping to myself), dark clouds covered the sky above us, getting ready to bombard us with a wet day.
***
What seemed to be a dizzily day turned into a full-on storm. It was a hectic day. Classes cancelled. Children screaming and running through the rain. Soaked shoes. And trying to take control and entertain a large number of bored children. It was seemingly hard to take any enjoyment from today, but that was exactly what I did.
I made jokes with the kids and laughed a little as they screamed when the thunder started. I ran around with them in the hall where we took shelter in. I danced around with them as music played and genuinely enjoyed myself.
Plus, the storm… It was really calming. Soothing. I felt so much more like myself as the storm raged outside.
It was like the physical world was matching my soul. It was wild, loud, and had no care in the world, as it let everyone know of its presence.
Everyone else was seemingly enjoying the storm, too, as all the other internationals messed around while I was at after-care. Some collect the rain in buckets and tip down on each other, and others go to play in the children’s park. One of them hurt their back as they went down the slide.
As lightning and thunder cracked through the sky, I was reminded of the beautiful scene that was presented to me at the Lincoln Memorial, where even the most hectic events made a moment ever more treasured.
Despite all those times I hated the rain when at work back in the UK, the rain here was… freeing. It was comfortable.
Or maybe I was getting comfortable in the skin that was now completely soaked.