Chapter 1: Departure

A year's worth of struggle, mis-direction and uncertainty was finally coming to an end. I stood in front of the bus stop as my family stood behind me. I was only minutes away from leaving behind the people that I have known longest in my life to travel to a country on the other side of the world. This was not the first time I had left behind my family, friends and hometown for an overseas trip, however this one would be different. This one was more than just a vacation or a simple job that lasted a few months.

This was a year long commitment in a country I was not the least bit familiar with. This was a journey into the complete unknown.

I had always talked about traveling. Dreams of getting away from my sleepy little town and seeing the world. What started as naive childhood dreams they soon turned into a reality for me. Once was enough to hook me. To convince me that my life's calling lay beyond the confines of my comfy little town. Traveling and exploring had found its way into my body with the only cure a few thousand miles away.

As the bus finally was ready to depart I gave my family the last physical farewell for a long while. I knew deep in my heart that I would see them again and though I did not act it, I knew I would miss them very much. They understood me. They understood my need to travel and see the world, even if they did not agree with it entirely.

“You're an adult now Kyle. I can no longer tell you what to do,” said my mother to me. “You have to live your own life. Chase your own dreams.”

As I boarded the bus I gave one last hearty wave goodbye with a smile on my face. I didn't want to them to be sad, I didn't want anyone to miss me. As selfish as those wishes were, I didn't want to hurt my family anymore. I wanted them not to feel sadness or loneliness but rather encouragement that I was embark on a new adventure, a new beginning.

The family (minus parents) 

It would only be one week later that I would understand how my family felt. One week later when the very concrete fact of being alone in another side of the world would sink in and paralyze me with fear and uncertainty. In my darkest and most fearful moments my thoughts would go to my family. They were the ones that mattered most, They were the ones I needed by me in times of crisis. They were the ones who I did not want to lose.

I sat down on the stiff seats as the bus rumbled along the highway. In less than a few hours I would be boarding a plane to Korea to start my new life. With a thousand bucks to my name and my entire life packed away into two suitcases.

As I started out the window I remembered the words my professor had told me in the past:

“One day you'll have to face the world on your own. It's is going to suck, but its what you have to do to grow and mature. You have to take control of your life. You have to become a man.”

His words echoed in my head, their abstract meaning finally making sense. So did the sadness and heavy heart of my parents.

I was twenty four years old, but still not an adult. I still had trials to face, challenges to overcome.

They were not losing a grown son eager for adventure, they were using their little boy about to embark on a journey that would most likely shape his life forever.

I was leaving a child.

I was coming back a man.