This summer I spent a month and a half out of the country with no parents. There are many significant stories to be told and details to be shared, so let's make this a series. This first episode will be about the travel there.

The last time I traveled across the world was 12 years ago with my parents. The last time I rode an airplane was 3 years ago with my parents. The last time I traveled across the world on an airplane without my parents was never...until two months ago when I traveled to Egypt with my best friend. Traveling, in general, is exciting, but also stressful at times. The most irritating thing by far, though, are the preparations and packing. Especially if you're traveling to the motherland. When you have not seen your extended family in years, you are no longer packing for yourself. You are packing for them. I took a total of 4 shirts for myself to make sufficient room for all the gifts I would be taking. So yeah, that was interesting.

At the airport, I felt calm and good to go until I got to security. One of the four shirts I took, which I was wearing at the time, got me a complete pat down because it had metal threads in it. Yeah, I should have realized that then, but you live and you learn. Even if it's at an airport being patted down while everyone mentally curses at you for being dumb enough to wear metal to an airport and wasting their time to be patted down like a fool.

Our connecting flight was in Chicago. We got to the airport to find they had removed the terminal we needed. I didn't realize that was possible. Eventually, we realized that we were just incapable and it had been relocated (But also what??? Who relocates an entire terminal?? I am looking at you Chicago O'Hare International airport). Also at this airport, I was told my name was not found on the airplane. I was ready to go back to America anyway, so I was not complaining. Then my friend told me we had not left America. Only then did I start complaining.

In all seriousness though, it's moments like these when you are grateful for having parents that can solve these boring but stressful issues out. I did not realize how dependent I was even with the slightest inconveniences. I realized then that this trip would really test my human-ing skills.

To be continued...