Wow. I’m finally here. Sitting on a plane 30,000 feet (or something like that) above my hometown, listening to the oddly appropriate song Something about Geography, and beginning a journey I’ve been dreaming about for my whole life (more or less).
Maybe we should start from the beginning.
I’m from a small town in southeastern Wisconsin. I have a younger sister, two amazing parents, and my trusty, if lazy, bullmastiff. My life was never out of the ordinary or too hard or too anything; we were happy. (And not in the stereotypical, mundane happiness where everyone secretly wanted more out of their life. Our lives were genuine).
My parents always said that on the first day of Kindergarten, I was beaming. No separation anxiety for me. Not much has changed since 2002, really. I grew up to be the same bubbly kid who loved going to school, learning new things, and smiling at everyone. I took several international trips during my teenage years and loved every minute of it (even the 12 hour flights). I always knew I wanted to study abroad in college, so when I began touring universities, that was on the top of my list. But, nothing really thrilled me.
I was stressed out of my mind as I applied to colleges. I didn’t have a “dream” of what I wanted my future to look like. Then a friend, who wasn’t as traditional as the rest of my classmates, suggested I take a year off. Who knew that little conversation would spark a fire in me that I haven’t been able to put out yet.
Traveling has always been a part of my blood (as well as being A-positive person! Haha, get it?). Whenever I fly in an airplane, I always try to grab a window seat so I can look out over the world. And I guess that’s what I’m trying to do now. With every plane ride, every trip, every new person I talk to, I come to understand another little piece of the world we live in. As much as I’m missing my family and my friends in this moment, I can’t wait to experience India and all it has to offer.
