Did I Forget to Pack My Toothbrush?

Since I decided to study abroad for this fall semester, I have been on the receiving end of plenty of questions from friends and family. ‘Aren’t you excited?’ is the most recurring one, and I have learnt to promptly reply with an enthusiastic ‘Oh yeah! I can’t wait to get there’. Depending on who is asking, I might even include that I will miss having them around.

Excited, in my opinion, is a relative term. I imagine the ball of nerves in the pit of my stomach is the same feeling one might get right before jumping out of a plane and freefalling into the atmosphere. It isn’t a good or bad sensation, it just is what it is and the best way to handle it is to meet it headfirst.

That being said, pre-departure anxiety isn’t exactly new to me. As an international student at Rollins, my entire college career is technically one huge study abroad experience. I have already been submitted to a foreigner orientation, so to speak, and even suffered through a ‘Welcome to America: Here’s How to Do Your Taxes’ speech. When I arrived at Rollins, I had nothing except the contents of my suitcase and a few Target bags – much like how when I arrive at London, I will be entirely reliant on whatever British Airways lets me bring onboard.

It is the eve of my departure, if I can call ‘eve’ the sleepless night before I leave for London.

I am still not done packing and, if experience serves me right, I will most likely panic last-minute and throw random things into my luggage ‘just in case’. My mom just had a small breakdown because she thinks I should have been packed and ready to go since May. My dad, bless his soul, has been giving me variations of the same safety and precaution speech for the past week (ironically, considering the most dangerous city I have ever lived in is my hometown Caracas). I keep checking my travel documents because I fear they will somehow mysteriously be sucked into the vortex of my room, and I will not be able to find them when the time comes to leave for the airport.

In short, I am nowhere near ready to embark on this journey. I will most likely board that plane sleep-deprived and panicky, but that’s okay. Because ultimately, all that matters is that I face my nerves and do everything I want to, despite them.

And also, that I don’t forget my passport.