The more things change, the more they stay the same

In science, the rules of entropy all boil down to a single fact: there are many ways to be chaotic, but only one form of order. In life this translates to the reality that no matter how many times change occurs, it is still a form of chaos and in this perspective, nothing really changes at all. This can be seen in many areas of life and in the course of a lifespan as well.
We are born helpless, completely dependent on others to eat, get around, be protected. And although life changes us constantly and we are put through trials and obstacles, changing us physically and emotionally, eventually we end up in old age, again helpless and dependent. An entire lifetime of change only to be back in the same situation as when we started life. Many of us won’t live long enough to come full circle back to an infantile helplessness, but the idea that the more things change, the more they stay the same can be seen in the little aspects of life as well.
I have been traveling for over a year and in this time have been to most countries in Europe, many cities in the United States, and just as many countries in South East Asia as well. This isn’t strange in itself but what might set this journey apart is that I actually have no home. I’m not traveling because I want to see the world or experience different cultures, but because I have no where to fly home to. I have stayed in so many hotels they no longer stand out and my passport is full of stamps even though it won’t expire for another six years. My wallet carries at least five different currencies and I’ve become somewhat of a pro at reading public transportation time tables. I have enough frequent flyer miles to fly for another year and not pay for another ticket.
In every country I visit, everything around me changes. People speak another language, have a different culture and background. Every new city I visit means finding new foods to eat, experiences different social expectations and seeing ways of life in stark contrast to the previous city I might have just visited. Between Frankfurt and Hong Kong, very little similarity exists. Even the very rudimentary basics of life–water, air, and food–are completely different. In Frankfurt the water is drinkable and it tastes great. When you walk outside you can see the sky and the air is crisp. In Hong Kong the water is clean but tastes horrid and the air is heavy and so polluted, you can’t see the blue in the sky. And this is only the basics. When you add culture and history, the discrepancy is metaphorically and literally, on the other side of the world.

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