I’ve never left the country, never been in an airplane over open water and I’ve definitely never been so far away from home. In one day I won’t be able to say that anymore. In twenty-four hours, I’m about to do something that I didn’t know I was brave enough to do. I know that sounds like an overly dramatic statement, like I’m just pulling something cheesy from a movie, but it’s true.
To some people going abroad might be easy, getting on a plane and jumping across continents might be a casual occurrence, to me that isn’t the case. I grew up in a small town with even smaller prospects and one very large dream- see the world. I think every young kid has, at one point or another, dreamed of being an adventurer or an explorer, and I am definitely no exception. Somewhere between growing up and becoming an adult the belief that I could do anything I wanted, disappeared. Tomorrow is a big day, big in the way a dream is, because I finally get to reclaim that sense of achieving anything I want.
I’m excited, terrified, nervous and slightly nauseated at the idea of it. I’m half horrified that I’ll accidentally offended my host family, and thinking about not eating Chick-Fil-A and Chipotle for several months is slightly depressing. Yet, none of that comes close to the stark fear of losing your passport the day before the trip. I won’t say that I lost it, because I really didn’t, I simply forgot that I had moved it into a drawer for safe keeping, however that doesn’t erase a ten minute panic attack. Putting that aside, I’m filled with just pure excitement (still a little bit of panic, but mainly excitement). I’m getting to be a part of the world and learn more about the people who live in it…if only I knew the language and could actually communicate effectively with those people. The sad fact is that I know only how to count to ten, name several body parts and ask someone to call a doctor, I don’t think I could even make sense to a toddler. Now I’m off to pack my carry-on, it was a little ridiculous to wait until the last minute to pack, and to triple check that my passport is actually in my bag. So if had to give any words of advice, I’d say- don’t lose your passport the day before your trip.