ELIOT RD

Home and Belonging, both longings and questions Where is home? Where do I belong? Where am I going and where have I been?

Prague… I was born in a hospital in the suburban countryside of the Czech Republic, on a bright morning with the wind whispering through the maple trees ringing the grounds. It was the first place that felt like everywhere, for it was all I knew–my world the gates at the city’s outer wall, guarding my treasured childhood memories, Feeding swans by the Vlatava River, Strolling with my older brother through Christmas Markets, Drinking hot chocolate as we watch the sunrise on the balcony,

When I tell people I was born in Prague, I get wide-eyed stares and at these moments I am psychic: How could this Asian girl be from the Czech Republic?

Beijing… I have a Chinese Passport, So I should be “from China,” Easy right? But I never feel “Chinese” enough when I’m in Beijing, my friend's Westerners with Western tastes and tongues, Whatever that means…

PLANE---> Lexington It was the summer of 2018 I boarded a plane from Beijing International airport to Boston Logan airport, The plane ride felt like a hundred hours, It felt like I was flying endlessly into the abyss, I lay my head on my father’s shoulder Gripped his arm with my hands I leaned back as the world behind me fell into a blur, My head rested against the small elliptical window We climbed higher and higher until all I could see were patches of the city appearing and disappearing beneath the smoggy clouds Nestled in my seat, I wondered what the future held for me…