Another Suitcase in Another Hall - Farewell to America do Sul

For almost 5 weeks, I had stared at the map. It is labeled "America do Sul," which means South America in Portuguese. This map does not show the whole continent but only southern half of the continent, mainly Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and southern part of Brazil. Exactly the countries I had visited in this trip.

Now I am saying goodbye to this "America do Sul."

The date after the climax of the Carnivale, Wednesday, is the beginning of Lent for Catholics. The party should be over on this day.

I packed all my stuffs and headed to the Airport, catching a flight to Sao Paulo, which I would have my returning flight to North America.

March, it is still winter in North America.

"So what happens now (take a picture off another wall)?
Where am I going to?"

Walking along the streets of Sao Paulo, suddenly, a song from the musical "Evita" came to me. The gloomy song "Another Suitcase in Another Hall"

"Where am I going to?" Madonna's voice echoes.

With 8 hours layover, I decided to take a shuttle bus from the Airport into the downtown of Sao Paulo, at least to have a look at this mega-metropolis. It is not only the largest one in Brazil, but it is also the largest one in the whole South America.

Sao Paulo, unlike Rio or even Buenos Aires, is not a city you would fall in love with at first sight. It is full of highrise and with very few historic buildings. While the broad boulevards and glossy shopping centers display its affluence, with a lot of poverty, it is also one of the most dangerous cities in the world. I tried to walk only on the major thouroughfares and did not stay until after dark.

The city actually felt okay. I did not even feel it is half as menacing as Baltimore or most parts of New Orleans (pre-Katrina, that is). However, it is just nt very impressive.

The time for my returning bus to the Airport approached and that "Evita" song started to come back to haunt me.

"So what happens now?
Where am I going to?
Where am I going to?"

I am going back to a place that is not really my home...

I'm going back to North America...Back to the winter from the Southern Hemisphere summer...

"Where am I going to?
Where am I going to? (You can get by as you had before)"

Really? Would I actually "get by" with all these difficulties in my career and other faltering aspects of my life, and all those unresolved issues? I remember I came to South America to stay away from all those problems in my life. Yes, I did stay away from them for 6 weeks. But the time was up, I needed to go back to face the music.

Reluctantly, ending my trip, going back to the place I'm not sure is home or not...

Where am I going to?
Where am I going to?

Bust just as the end of this song implied, I heard the voice of Juan Peron, telling dying Evita:

"Don't ask anymore!"

Yes, don't ask. Just move on.

The End