I love the first ride in a new place, from the airport to wherever I'm staying. It's like unwrapping something - going through different layers as the city (usually it's a city the first day) inches up around you. First there's a welcome sign and often some kind of odd sculpture upon exiting the airport, then industrial area or nothing much. Then usually little bits of suburbs, and finally the city itself. I'm a blank slate during those rides, a beginner.

When I'm coming home from the airport, I have started trying to hold the beginner's mind. I like to try to imagine that I'm seeing my city for the first time. I like to think, what would this feel like if I was a person from the country I was just in, seeing this place for the first time? What would be curious, what would be different, what would be the same? Would I love it? Would I hate it? Would I feel overwhelmed or disappointed or excited? Would I think it's just the weirdest thing ever?