Between Time and Luggage: A Modern Nomad's Tale Sungwon Bae

Thud!

The sudden noise interrupted the flow of dynamic movement. My passport had slipped onto the floor with the documents required for the flight. I let out a small sigh as I put the things back onto the desk.

Growing up as a third-culture kid, I was a modern nomad, with my residency changing every three or four years. Now I was preparing for the next trip; I would be by myself for the first time. With mixed emotions, I glanced at the almost packed travel case. The arrow of time says packing is to prepare for the future, yet why does my luggage appear as my obsession with the past? While the present and future argued about what to take, my past was stubbornly holding on to numerous objects.

Under the folded clothing, I could feel the presence of a wooden item. The Dalecarlian Horse has been with me since the beginning of my nomadic life in Sweden. Unfortunately, the horse didn't seem to fit in the luggage, just like I struggled to fit into every place I'd been. And yet this wooden piece had to be with me. My little horse pushed me to step out into the world with innocence in its eyes; it taught me to have great patience, like the time it took for its creation, and to be fearless as its vivid color. I'll continue exploring the...