Originally published August 13th
Tomorrow’s the day I fly.
Even though I’ve got all my suitcases filled, small bottles filled with liquids and my iPhone filled with the newest songs, I feel empty. Or numb. I don’t even know how to explain it properly. My body’s lost sensation. My thoughts have lost its train.
It still hasn’t hit me that I’ll be gone for a year. Gone for 365 days, away from my home, my dog and my family.
I’m not even sure if it will hit me while I’m on the plane. To be honest though, I’d rather have nothing hit me while I’m on the plane, so I’m going to knock on wood.
My dog’s sleeping on a bed nearby. I wonder if he knows if I’m going—or that I’m going for that long. He likes to wait by the windowsill for me to come back; I wonder how long he’ll do that for. What a dumb dog. I love him so much. I love him so much that I’ve dedicated this itty-bitty paragraph to him. So, in order to make sure I’m not flying into sap-ville, I’m going to stop. Right here. Seriously. I’m gonna miss him.
At the moment, I’m not like a kid going to Disneyland. While those Mickey-kids may be unable to sleep, squeaking in their beds before scurrying into their equally excited parents’ bedrooms, I’m just… waiting. It’s crazy how fast time flies. I remember applying for exchange during the middle of the school year. In my mind then, I was just excited to get my reports done, my finals done, my semester done. Now, it’s already August 13th. People going back to UBC have already registered their courses while I’m still in the dark regarding what kind of classes I can take. Everything’s uncertain. But that’s what makes it exciting.
The first few steps I take into Japan (I’ll probably be limping into Japan because of a foot injury oops), might be shaky. They might be nervous. They might be cautious. Although, I’ve been to Japan two times before, this time is different. I’m not a tourist anymore. I’m a nervous but excited, shaky student with a charming limp. A fine upgrade. Just in time for adventure.
It’s 12:00AM. Today’s the day I fly.