(originally posted on 2016-11-16)
Our children have asked us, more than once, how many airplanes have we been on? I can’t give an answer to that without a good five minutes of solid mental calculation. Every trip to Canada or back to China is at least 3 planes depending on the route. Once we took something like six planes, it was cheaper that way; we never did it again after that because of the travel disaster it turned out to be. Then we have conferences to attend which were always out of the country. Over 11 years the flights have added up.
They are used to travelling. This does not mean that they like travelling. When we look at our own children we have one who would be happy to never step on an airplane again if at all possible; travelling is okay if it’s done on a train. Home is the ideal place to be. But we also have one who loves the idea of travelling and airplanes, the longer the airplane ride the better. Regardless of their opinions, each of our kids have a preference of where they like to sit on a plane. Given enough time an MK could recite the airplane safety demonstration for you. Some MK’s are more used to trains. They could tell you the pros and cons of the upper berth or the lower berth in a sleeper car. And they probably have an opinion about it. Travelling is normal. Vacations are normal. When we returned to Canada our kids were rather shocked that we would not be travelling to Thailand for a break.
They are used to airports but that familiarity can be expressed differently by each MK. Airports are a great place to play, to people watch, to identify different airline carriers. The arrival/departure screens are fun to scan to see where people are coming from and going to. Moving sidewalks can be boredom busters. Bigger airports often have interesting artwork and sculptures. Those are all ways to experience an airport. Other MKs are not fans of airports. The passport check, the security scan, hallways full of people all mean that making it to the seating area and pulling out headphones and a tablet are the best way to go. Whichever view an MK holds though, they are familiar with airports. They are not caught unaware by the need to unpack their electronics. They know not to bring fluids through security. It always takes longer than expected and don't get why the person 5 spots ahead is angry because they didn’t have that appropriate expectation.
Whatever their opinion on moving around, the fact of it is normal to an MK. Moving, whether they move or others move, is an expectation not a surprise. It becomes routine. For someone not used to all this moving about it may seem inconsequential, but nonetheless it is part of an MK’s identity. As an adult MK, this characteristic can play out in a couple of ways. Settling down in one place feels impossible. The urge to pack up and move hits them every few years. You can imagine the difficulty that poses when it comes to holding down a job. For others they would rather remain in a job they hate than move to another place where something more suitable, interesting, exciting or just better is waiting. It's impact on their relationships is a topic for another time.
When you ask an MK where they’ve lived, or where their friends live, or even just where they have been in the world, don’t see their answer as something they are boasting about because they can list off more than a handful of places that are not in North America. Understand that it is a unique part of them that happens to be their normal experience. But do ask them about it, it is one way to get to better understand an MK you know.
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