A personal homecoming

Another notable destination in Xiamen was the temple built on the side of a mountain, overlooking the rural portion of China

Home, for me, means more than just a place to go to when things get hectic. At the end of a stressful day, home might be the house where I live in, a refuge that will allow me to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

For me, this also means a quiet place where noise, people, and signs of urban lifestyle are controlled at best, and one where I can have time for myself for reflection, enjoyment and rest.

All these and more I found in Xiamen.

Xiamen in China satisfied a hunger in me that I never knew I had. I never realized it until afterwards, when I felt more satisfied than I had been in a long time.

During this three-day trip, one of the first things I noticed was the lack of social networks. To others, it may mean the end of the world, a break from the active millennial lifestyle that defines the generation I belong in.

For me, it was a sign that this vacation would be a break from life in general. It meant that my search for a quiet environment was going to be fulfilled.

Fulfilled, then, was not enough to summarize the positive emotions I felt throughout the trip. For one, fulfilled was only one way to describe my stomach, since the place where we stayed was near one of Xiamen’s famed food streets.

Every single food you could think of was there, from steamed lobsters to fried squid on sticks, fishballs smothered in sweet and spicy sauce, and savory cheese cakes.

Steamed lobsters, fried squid, and fishballs are sold in stalls located along Xiamen’s famed food streets

One stall, in particular, sold fruits such as pineapples, apples, and strawberries which were covered in caramel. Another one sold nothing but macha-flavored food. Everywhere you go, there was always a stall in the corner selling egg waffles filled with whatever toppings you could imagine, like chocolate chips and ice cream. It was a haven for my taste buds, jumping from flavor to flavor.

Another notable destination was this temple on the side of a mountain. It was built overlooking the rural portion of China. This was the place where I felt the most at home. There was barely any sign of pollution that normally occupies an urban area.

Here, all anyone could see was nature itself. The view was amazing, as it was overlooking a valley.

Everything here was perfect—the cold weather, the lack of people, and, more importantly, the feeling of peace that brought everything together. It was perfect.

Feeling at home and at peace in Xiamen, China

This was the moment wherein I realized that I felt most at home. I relished it every moment—the feeling of serenity and tranquility.

Coming back from Xiamen, I learned to always yearn for this moment. I learned to begin every day with the same sense of quiet reflection that I was always searching for.

It made me realize that home is not a physical place. Home is that feeling we turn to and look for every day. Home is love, family, the quiet and comfort that we search for. Home is wherever we envision it to be.

The author’s search for a quiet environment was fulfilled in Xiamen.

Xiamen offered a break from the active millennial lifestyle.