Disclaimer

I feel that it's important to say this early on, so as to retain as many readers as possible:

I hereby promise, at 1:53 pm on Monday, July 27, 2009, to not let this turn into one of those cliche, "Oh-my-god,-I-studied-abroad-and-it,-like,-totally-changed-my-life" blogs.

That's all. Feel free to return to your work procrastination, mindless web surfing, or busy, hectic days.

-Natalie

The countdown begins.

The date is set.  On August 23, at approximately 11:30 AM, I will start my journey from Jacksonville to Hong Kong.  That felt oddly liberating and terrifying to type out.

I bought my plane tickets yesterday.  Considering they cost me $1,080, they automatically constitute as both the single-most expensive and probably significant purchase of my life so far.  Also, yesterday happened to be an exact month from the day of my departure.  It seemed fitting to go ahead and start this blog, then, considering I am entering the final month of a countdown that has spanned the past year.

Just so everyone's on the same page here (and no, I'm not starting with self-referential statements regarding this blog... at least not yet), here's the backstory.  I'm currently a senior at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, but I am taking a brief sabbatical from Hatterland and will instead be studying at Hong Kong Baptist University from August til December. Over the course of those four months, I will be taking classes (mainly electives, since my major requirements are pretty much finished at this point), traveling around Asia, and 'discovering myself.'  That's what's supposed to happen when you study abroad, right? 

Although I was born in New Zealand, this will be markedly different than my last international flight.  For one thing, the last one took place when I was a year old; needless to say, it's beyond the scope of my memory.  More importantly, though, I'll be faring this one alone.  No turning around in my seat to find my brother behind me, no resting my head on mom's shoulder, no pestering my sister to let me read her magazine.   Just me, the other students going from Stetson, and an endless span of sky.  And a nice tall rum and pineapple, if I have anything to say about it.  My pre-flight nerves are going to need one.  Or five.

One month from now, I will be touching down in Hong Kong right in time to watch the sun set. Within the span of one day's travel, I will be half a world away from everything I've grown up with.  As night envelopes my new city, dawn will be breaking on my family and friends.  This is beginning to feel real (though that sentiment might have something to do with the fact that I'm typing this in an airport).

People always say it's a small world.  Let's see how small it really is.