After two decades of life in the city that never sleeps, my chapter in New York ended last Thursday as I boarded a plane to Amsterdam Schiphol, the Netherlands. Leaving behind invaluable friendships was, and always will be, the hardest part. Familiar faces, favorite spots—once you’re gone, they’re never quite the same. Saying goodbye is always bittersweet.
However, when your friends throw you an unforgettable farewell party, the goodbye becomes a soul-touching blessing. My send-off was more than emotional—it was joyful, grounding, and left me looking forward to the adventures ahead.
Packing Up a Life
As much as I anticipated being with family for the holidays and traveling to Africa next year, packing was its own daunting adventure. Packing 20 years of life into a few suitcases is no joke. Furniture was already gone, but I still had photo albums, business equipment like my printer, and several of my BAD Hair Uprooted portraits from the Billie Holiday Theatre exhibition.
Mr. Edwards founder of Cultural Museum of African Art (CMAA)
Fortunately, Eric Edwards, founder of the Cultural Museum of African Art (CMAA), offered my portraits a home. His reassurance that my work is important and his promise to preserve my collection was a gift I will forever treasure.
That left clothes—so many clothes: summer outfits, winter layers, gym gear, and evening wear. Despite limiting myself to four suitcases, packing was still chaos. Every time I thought I’d nailed it, I’d find another item and question if it was worth keeping. At one point, I considered ditching it all and starting fresh.
On the eve of departure, I still wasn’t packed. By 11 PM, overwhelmed by the ticking clock, I repacked everything using the military rolling style. Why I didn’t think of this earlier, I can’t say. By 3 AM, the suitcases were finally closed, but I was drained and aching.
20 years packed in 4 suitcases.
Departure Day
With my flight at 6:50 PM, ChatGPT helped me map out my timing, assuring me I could sleep in. After a restless few hours, I spent the morning tidying up and taking one final look around. It felt surreal to see 20 years of memories packed into four suitcases and a trolley.
The ride to JFK was a mix of emotions. Friends called to say their last goodbyes, and as I admired the bright New York skyline with both the sun and moon visible, a sense of peace washed over me. I was ready for the next chapter.
Moving Overseas: Lessons and Essentials
For anyone preparing to move overseas, here are my hard-earned tips:
1. Start Early: Begin sorting, donating, or selling items at least six months ahead. Shipping furniture is costly, and it’s often cheaper to buy new pieces at your destination.
2. Do the Math: Shipping a box can be double the cost of adding a suitcase to your flight. My third and fourth suitcases cost $248 each, but shipping a similar weight would have been far more expensive.
3. Use the Roll Method: Rolling your clothes military style saves an incredible amount of space. It made all the difference for me! Just make sure to keep everything organized as you go—trust me, it’s worth it.
4. Choose Personal Over Practical: Clothes can be replaced, but sentimental items can’t. When packing clothes, prioritize weather-appropriate and culturally suitable pieces, and weigh the cost of bringing them versus buying new.
My Hair Essentials
Here are my must-haves for hair wherever I go:
- Tube Wrap: Protects my locs from lint during long flights.
- Silk Pillowcases: A must for maintaining shiny, moisture-rich hair, especially when I’m unsure of sleeping arrangements.
- Hair Serum: Keeps my hair hydrated and my new growth soft. Too bad it can’t go in my carry-on!
- Lint-Free Towels: Absorb moisture quickly and keep lint off my locs.
- Scalp Roller: A lifesaver for easing tension in my scalp and relaxing my entire body.
1 comment
Heel veel succes bij de volgende onderneming.