Aleda in Asia

I’m back!

Back, as in writing this from my departure gate at the airport again. Back, as in living out a backpack again. Back, as in testing my survival skills again. This time, quadruple the distance and the duration. This time: Asia.

Update: arrived!

This is a big leap for me. I hate goodbyes. When my mom tells the story of the day she dropped me off on the first day of kindergarten, she jokes that I was just itching to leave  because I swung my backpack on and strolled away without ever looking back at her. Now that I’m an adult, capable of handling most of my emotions, I have to believe that that was a defence mechanism, because goodbyes destroy me. I once cried for days after disembarking a cruise ship in 8th grade because I thought I had befriended the Philippino BUS BOY. His name was Bagus, I actually still haven’t forgotten. My point being; I hate goodbyes. And I had a few hard ones this time around. This trip feels bigger. Yes, it IS significantly longer and farther than any trip I’ve ever done, but it also just feels like a really huge deal to me! I’ve been dreaming of a backpacking gap year for decades, seriously. So, because of the goodbyes, and the built-up anticipation, and the excitedly odd amount of freedom I was suddenly gifted post-graduation, the first step off the plane felt BIG. I imagine this was what Neil Armstrong felt on the moon. No, I’m kidding.. Mine’s obviously way cooler.

I’ve stuck to my comfort zone for most of life. They call it a comfort zone for a reason, people! Don’t get me wrong, I’ve done cool, big, scary, uncomfortable things.. just none quite as cool, big, scary, or uncomortable as this. I know, 4 months is nothing in the long run. And I know that 11 out of 195 countries seems small comparatively. My brain is not a “downsizer”, though. My brain is an amplifier. Every emotion of mine seems to have the adverb “really” in front of it.

So, welcome back to a really awesome blog documenting my really exciting trip!

- Aleda