Home and Away: Home is Where the People Are

A trip I've taken more recently was a road trip I took from Atlanta to Orlando in which I reunited with my friends that I made working at Walt Disney World.

The most important thing I gained from moving to Orlando and working for Disney was the co-workers I met that became friends for life. I am so grateful to have found them. Florida gifted me with friends that make me feel at home. Orlando itself is not the most desirable location, with air so thick with humidity that you feel like you're swimming. When I returned from Orlando, landing in Boston in the middle of January felt like the most refreshing breath of air I'd had in months. Then after spending some time back home, I started to feel homesick. This was a strange new feeling since I grew up in Massachusetts and always felt that this was my home. I felt homesick because I missed going into work every day and seeing my best friends. I felt homesick because I missed going out to eat around Orlando on our days off.

I booked a flight into Atlanta to drive down to Orlando with my former coworker and current best friend. I felt both the thrill of being away and the longing to be back where my friends were, which felt like home.

We went on this road trip in order to lift our spirits and be reunited since we no longer get to go to work together every day. It was a much needed road trip as we all missed each other, and we were struggling to get back into classes. I even compiled a playlist for the car ride called "emergency mental health intervention". The 6 hour drive flew by as we caught up with each other and reminisced on our favorite work memories. The road trip itself was an important moment for us because it felt like we were going home after a long time of being away from each other.

Growing up going to Disney with my family, I have always felt at home there. When you first check into your hotel the concierge will even say "welcome home". I am always reminded of my late grandmother when I am there, and feel as though she's with me. When I was working there, I always felt that she would be proud of me for moving there and doing what I love.

I found this image on the left to perfectly describe how I felt on this trip. This was taken at a Starbucks right outside of Disney property, where I used to go almost every day before work. I have always said that theme park coffee tastes different, and this is the best tasting Starbucks in the world. Coffee is always a crucial part of a road trip and this stop specifically made us feel like we were close to home after a long journey.

The image on the right is a "Holiday Turkey" sandwich from Earl of Sandwich in Disney Springs. Disney Springs is a shopping area that is open to the general public, even during the pandemic. When I was working in Disney this sandwich reminded me of Thanksgiving dinners at home. It was comforting to my coworkers and I who couldn't be home for the holidays. I have many memories of getting this sandwich late at night with them, and it's become a must-have for my visits.

Although we could not go to Disney due to the pandemic, this picture shows what brought us all together. When reflecting on my travels and the idea of home versus away I feel that Disney blurs those lines for me. I think of this trip down to Orlando as the value of friendship and family to be what makes me feel at home. The physical space of the welcome sign is not much of a home, but the memories of driving under it feel like home. The friends and family bonds that have come from it feel like home.