Leaving on a Jet Plane

Brave.

I think that was the word most people used to describe me when I told them I was taking off to travel Europe for two months alone.

There were moments when I thought "crazy" would have been a better word to describe my plans.

The initial months of planning this trip were nothing except pure excitement and joy that my dream was actually happening. I spent pretty much every waking moment of my free time researching and planning things to see and do in the cities on my itinerary. It was all I would talk about. Sincere apologies to my friends and family, but thank you for putting up with me.

But then the nerves started to set in. In the final month or two before my trip began I could feel myself getting nervous. Did I have all the necessities? Was I forgetting anything? How did finances look? Hundreds of questions and doubts flooded my mind as the big day drew closer. I mean, honestly, 2 months is a heck of a long time to take off all alone to several countries that you've never been to before.

It wasn't until less than a week before my trip that I began to let those fears go. I guess finals and graduating from university were stressful enough that it distracted my mind from other worries. That is, until I got to the airport the afternoon of May 1st. It wasn't security, or rushing to check-in that made my nerves come back. It was standing in line to board the plane. I was the only American boarding that plane it seemed and I could feel excitement and nervousness building inside me again. I think the ultimate moment of realization that this was actually happening was sitting in my seat, looking out the window as the plane started down the runway for take off.

That's when I thought to myself:

'Well, too late to back out of this now."

Luckily, once the plane was off the ground, that anxious feeling left and I settled into what has been the best flight of my life and the happiness that started my trip. Props to Virgin Atlantic for creating a wonderful flight experience, complete with an awesome kosher meal and free alcohol. That's right, free alcohol. I was one very happy customer, and am so greatful that my trip started off well. I will always remember taking off that runway and beginning the journey of a lifetime that has just barely begun.