A New Beginning

Well folks, the time has finally come.

A few months ago, in September, I made the decision to go on a volunteer abroad to Thailand through the International Language Programs to teach young school kids English. I'll be living behind the school with the rest of my group for the next 4 months. 

During the past few months as I've been anticipating this adventure I've often wondered what compelled me to sign up with this program. Little kids scare me and, though I love to travel, I have a really hard time dealing with change. So why volunteer my time to spend my days with kids in a foreign land? Simple. I want to help change lives.

I want to lose myself in service because I know that not only can I be the change, but I want to be changed as well. This travel abroad will change my life. I'm going to learn so much more than I could ever anticipate and you know what? I eagerly await this change. I love who I am, but I know that an experience like this can only mold me into the person I have the potential to be.

Thus far I've had two flights totalling in about 12 hours of flight time. I'm sitting in the Tokyo, Japan airport awaiting my delayed flight to Bangkok. It's funny, most of the people waiting for the Bangkok flight are complaining about the 4 hour delay... but I honestly couldn't be happier. I'm in Japan. True, it's just the airport and it's dark outside, but still. It's not everyday one finds themselves in Japan. The airport employees here are extremely friendly and helpful, so that's a plus :)

You'd think that it would have set in by now that the next 4 months of my life are about to be drastically different than anything I've ever experienced before, but it still feels like a dream. Despite the flights and the currency exchange nothing has truly changed yet. It's crazy to think how much my perceptions will change in the next 24 hours. My future holds many twists, turns and surprises, and I am ever so eager for them all to begin :)