Trip Beginnings

Getting to the airport was stressful, but layered with excitement now that the trip was finally here. Our driver, Alex—originally from Brazil and living in the U.S. for forty years—filled the drive with thoughtful conversation about politics and the state of the world, a reminder that travel often begins with unexpected connections.

At the airport, the tone shifted. A bartender put on a show while making a lychee martini for me and a Paper Plane cocktail for Eric, a perfect send-off. We talked with a man from Istanbul who had lived in South Korea and China as a shipbuilding engineer and now lives in Irvine with his Korean wife. Eric loved the exchange—those moments of shared stories with people from everywhere. He bought a Kurt Vonnegut book, settled into business class with champagne, and kicked off his birthday week in style.

The travel itself was long—thirteen hours to New Zealand and another three and a half to Australia—but arrival brought its own lessons. Australia’s biosecurity was intense: declarations, checkpoints, and dogs efficiently sniffing every bag. Watching them work made it clear why. Though Australia is vast, its ecosystems developed in isolation, leaving plants and animals vulnerable to introduced pests and disease. Prevention, they’ve learned, is essential.

After weeks of preparation and work, it finally feels like time to exhale, rest, and begin the journey.Read more