It was more emotional than I expected, saying goodbye to my family at the airport. I could see the worry in my parent’s eyes and the indifferent gaze by my younger brothers who will not comprehend the magnitude of my journey for a few years. My one backpack and I hop on the first of three planes and get ready to depart.

                The first flight to Detroit, Michigan my mind was dazzled by the everythings that was happening during the flight. I’m easily amused by planes. I find flying so fascinating. It wasn’t till the second 14 hour flight to Tokyo, Japan that my mind began to fathom the entirety of my doing. Traveling out of the country for the first time (keeping in mind that my destination is half way around the world) is big. In a 400,000 ton soaring hunk of steel, at thirty thousand feet I contemplated what is to come and the possibilities that will be unraveled. A definitive declaration of independence would surely come from traveling solo. My strength will be tested when I confront a language barrier, double fold. Not being able to speak with those who only speak Thai and stuttering to those who can speak English. Being thrown into a world so unknown, I’ll see if I’m able to adapt.

                Landing in Bangkok at the Suvarnabhumi Airport I was too tired to be excited. I was looking forward to getting to my hostel that was somewhere in Bangkok and sleeping. After baggage claim I started to walk towards the infamous outsides of Suvarnabhumi. I have read many blurbs and heard may stories about taxi scams here. It didn’t help that my plane arrived at 11:55 pm.