Take Off!

Saying goodbye to my family at the airport was extremely difficult. I kept wanting to keep them in my view as long as possible as I walked towards security. It was like my eyes couldn't get enough of them. I wanted to remember every detail of them and not waste a second of the precious time we had left looking elsewhere.

After a few tearful goodbyes, I settled into my cozy reclining seat in Executive First Class (Thanks, Deborah-Ann!!)- undoubtedly my last bit of luxury for the next few months! As my plane to Lima, Peru begins to taxi down the runway, I feel oddly calm. It could be the complimentary champagne, or it could be the fact that the enormity of my adventure hasn't yet set in. It feels incredibly surreal. Am I actually doing this?! Am I on a plane, by myself, flying to a foreign South American country?! Am I going to wake up and realize this is all a dream? For the first time in a few days, I feel more excited than afraid. When I get off this plane, I'll be stepping foot into a completely foreign country, continent, culture and language. I will be achieving three major life goals all in one shot. How exhilarating!

Well.... there was take off. It was quite an overwhelming moment for me. I simultaneously felt blessed, excited, lucky and terrified. I'm really doing this!