Ithaca

I started my PhD when I was 23. A long and lonely journey.

It’s hard, because I felt like I could not see the end.

On my second year, I had an opportunity to present in a conference in Athens, Greece. It was my very first presentation at an international conference. And the first time I “travel” to a new country on my own - to me, England then had already become a “home”.

Someone introduced me to Dimitri (a very common Greek name), who to date I still haven’t met in person. He was studying his Masters degree in Taiwan then. His sister and his lovely mother came to the youth hostel I booked to meet me. I had a really wonderful time in Athens, with his family’s hospitality, and I left Athens with two big boxes of homemade tzatziki and Melitzanosalata (Greek eggplant salad). Homemade food from a mother is the best. I was honored to be able to share the love Dimitri’s mother hoped to deliver to him.

Throughout my dark and lonely time when writing thesis, Dimitri was always generous to share his Greek optimism and philosophy with me. This is a poem he sent to me. It had comforted me and supported me through many low moments of my life. It reminded me so many times that It is OK if the journey is long. We grow along the way.

Constantine P. Cavafy (1911)

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.

Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.