The airport is a maddening scene of fibrillating activity. Like the spokes of a bicycle wheel leading from its hub, the airport connects people and places. People are tense, curt, exhilarated, filled with anxiety. They are either rushing around or waiting listlessly in endless lines. They play with their phones, eat expensive food they don’t even like. An anthropologist visiting the airport would note all these emotions and frenetic energy as well as the many languages being spoken. Children are crying, lovers embracing, uniformed servicemen sip cocktails at bars, older people are being pushed through security in wheelchairs.

My experience in the Portland airport was nothing out of the ordinary, except for the fact that United cancelled the first flight to Denver. I thought I’d outsmarted the airlines by making my own reservation on Alaska Airlines to Denver in hopes of intercepting my international flight and still arriving on time in Istanbul. But I forgot that I’d still have to collect my luggage and go through security again, which was in another airport concourse. Sitting at the back of the plane, I begged the flight attendant to let me off first. He was kind enough to make an announcement about my predicament, and the crew agreed to let me do it. The entire plane cheered me on as I ran down the aisle like a quarterback making a 40 yard dash for a touchdown! But in spite of my hero’s encouragement, I still didn’t make my connection…

So, more airport time, people watching, and joining the ranks of patient travelers.

When I’m traveling in developing countries I feel safe at the airport. Someone is bound to speak English. ATMs will give you a reliable exchange rate. The public restrooms are clean and you can flush the toilet paper. The food and water are probably safe. The concourse might even be air conditioned. The airport is the transition between home and the new country.

But as soon as you hit the street, the penetrating heat and noise, swarming tour guides and taxi drivers —both the honest ones and the scammers—will assault your senses.

Brace yourself; you have arrived…