inner/outer journey

By Naol Hulufe

While inner journey can be defined in many different ways, I personally define it as self-understanding through different lenses. Born and raised in Ethiopia and moving to the United States at the age of 11 gave me a more detailed understanding of myself. Having the privilege of traveling from one country to another has truly helped me explore my inner journey in depth. Being able to travel between these two countries has provided me with the ability to learn new languages, experience different cultures, and meet people from different backgrounds, which have played a huge role in this extraordinary self-discovery.

All these changes began on December 2^nd, 2011, when the plane took off from Ethiopia, the only place I had ever known. For 11 years, Ethiopia provided me with my first identity, first language, and my first everything. It was a place that I never thought of leaving because it is my home where my family, friends, and childhood memories reside. A place I first learned to walk and talk.

The moment the Ethiopian Airlines plane took off, everything I knew until this point changed. I was terrified to face this new journey because I did not want to leave my family and friends behind. However, I had the feeling this new chapter has so much to offer and I had dreamed of traveling to the United States of America, land of the free and home of the brave, for years. Before leaving my birthplace, I took one last look at Ethiopia through the plane’s window, which only gave me a narrowed view of the airport. Looking out through that small window, I noticed that the sky was full of light and dark clouds just like the feelings in my heart. The sky showed the abstract feelings I had that day. My childhood memories were flashing through my mind and my eyes were full of tears ready to drop just like the clouds were full of rain. My feelings were everywhere.

On the day of my departure, I found myself crying nonstop for 20 minutes, because I did not want to leave my friends and family and flip to the next chapter in my life. I remember hanging on my grandmother’s legs before I was forced to get in the car to hit the road. I cried so much that I forgot to say goodbye to some of my relatives. I was truly sad to let go of everything I had known my entire childhood. My friends cried as much as I did and they were saying, “Don’t forget about us!” which made me cry even more. My grandmother, on the other hand, was saying, “Go explore what God has given you, and hopefully, God willing, we will see each other.” With my eyes full of tears and my heart full of sorrow, I got in the car and headed to the airport. When I got to the airport, the planes were boarding, ready to hit the sky and face the storm that was ahead, just like I was ready to gather all my feelings together and take on the new journey.

Naol's Image — Taken on December 3, 2011 by: Naol Hulufe

Through this 48 hour journey, I understood my life and the life I hoped to live. I reflected on my childhood life and realized how most kids never get such an opportunity to travel to a place that offers so much more. It gave me the meaning of travel, and provided me with a clear understanding of my privileges. Even though I was born and raised in a place with fewer opportunities, my life took a different direction the day I boarded the Ethiopian Airlines plane and landed in Washington D.C.

On December 3rd of 2011, after 48 hours of flying, the plane that took off from my birthplace lands in a place whose possibilities I have yet to explore. A world that everyone dreams of coming to. A world that is seen by the other world as the land of opportunities, especially for those who are driven to change their life, the life of their families, and for those who are committed to change the world for the better.

Arriving at night and looking out of the plane, I see the beauty of my new city. With my phone’s camera, I try to capture the beauty that I witness with my naked eyes, but only succeed in capturing the unfocused lights of the city. That light extends for miles, and I see the beauty of the city stretching far into the distance. Just by looking at those lights, I am convinced that my life will be better and my future is full of brightness.

By Liam Walker

As I step outside onto the shimmering asphalt, my feet feel as if they are about to melt. I have been dared to see how long I can stand the smoldering blacktop on my bare feet. Long story short, I only lasted about 2 seconds. After putting my flip-flops back onto my raw feet, I feel immediately relieved. Next comes the hard part.

The art of crossing the street in Phan Thiết, Vietnam is a skill that takes years to master. The sound alone of the motorists zooming past and people speaking to relatives across the road is more than enough to give you a migraine for days. The only piece of advice I received from my girlfriend was, “Whatever you do, don’t stop moving. They will go around you.” At the time, I didn’t understand that what she had just said would be a golden rule.

Do you remember when you were a kid and you found tadpoles in the pond? If you’re from the city and have no idea what I am talking about, let me fill you in. When you stick your finger in the water, all of the tadpoles will disperse in every single direction away from you or act like you aren’t even there and swim around you. When you are crossing the street, you are your finger and the motorists are the tadpoles.

DO NOT STOP MOVING.

FEAR CANNOT EXIST OR YOU WILL GET HIT!

After my experience with the tadpoles moving 65mph, I had to stop to reapply sunscreen. Even with this melanin I still get sunburnt! We all rave about how nice hot weather is, that is until we are actually in direct fire of the sniper we call the Sun.

As I stuff my sunscreen back into my bookbag, a street vendor offers me phó. Phó is a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup and is served in North America usually as a dinner, but in Vietnam, it is an all-day food. I learned this the hard way when my girlfriend’s family ordered phó for us all at 8 am for breakfast. Now don’t get me wrong, I love phó, but not at 8 am in 97° weather.

Looking around the busy downtown of Phan Thiết you will see so many different people, food choices, and even some wacky pets on leashes. The food selection is my favorite (what a surprise, right?), but let me explain why. There is one older woman who walks around every day downtown selling this delicious coconut ice cream on a stick. Mango and dragon fruit are to die for. The mangoes almost have the texture of butter and there are no fibers that get stuck in your teeth, and the dragon fruit is grown only 15 minutes down the road. This is a freshness you could never get back home in the states, and to be honest it sucks that I have to travel this far for my tongue to be this happy.

My favorite part of the Vietnamese food culture downtown would be the small street restaurants. You would never know they were there if you didn’t have a local from the city to let you in on all the best eats because they don’t look anything like our restaurants. The vendors have around three chairs and a small Blackstone they use to cook on, and usually only specialize in one specific dish. And let me tell you, they don’t need to cook anything else because wow, is it amazing.

After reading about my time in Vietnam, I’d like to let you in on a little secret. I’ve never set foot out of the United States. All of these accounts were a merging of stories and descriptions provided by my girlfriend Zoë along with my imagination. Because of the pandemic, most of us cannot travel right now (and you shouldn’t be!), but the purpose of this essay was to show my readers that traveling does not need to involve movement in space. Travel is whatever you want it to be.

inner/outer journey

Travel from Ethiopia to USA

Distant Travels from Vietnam