It was 10.30am, the car was packed and my parents and I were on route to the airport. Having slept no more than a couple of hours, it was finally 7 January 2018 – my big day. I couldn’t sleep, believe me I tried. The adrenaline was just too much, combined with fear and excitement. Anyone who has set off on a journey like this will know what I mean, you just feel confused about what is happening as you can't help but feel like something big is about to happen.
From the moment I woke up, all I seemed to achieve was rearranging my rucksack a fair few times, trying to fit in as much as I could. Although, I soon realised that I would have to spend most of the next 12 months carrying it around with me in 30 degrees heat - so it was back to square one. With my luggage ready, it was a quick passport and phone check, just to make sure I had everything before we headed off.
Heathrow Airport, Terminal 4, Zone D was my check in for Jet Airways and although check-in was straightforward I hate leaving my bag with any airline, in case I reach my destination and my bag ends up miles away in Tonga (hypothetically speaking of course) or get lost for good. However, I took my rucksack round to the heavy/special baggage desk, said “Bye bag” and then she was gone.
Shortly after, my friends Tony, Georgina and Davida arrived as they had come to bid me farewell. At that moment I felt so lucky, as I had my parents and some of my closest friends there with me. We grabbed a coffee and an after about an hour or so before they left me to go through to departures.
That was it, the moment I took a deep breath and realised that after five months of waiting and five years of dreaming… I was finally going on my global adventure and making my dream a reality.
Do I know what will happen in any given day or where I will be in a week's time? Absolutely not and what an amazing feeling it is!
Update: Ironically the airline did lose my luggage but I can report that it was found and has since made it's way back to me here in Bangkok. I think it is fair to say that I predicted that it was going to happen.
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