The day I left my comfort zone behind

Today marked the day where I will step into a journey that I have ALWAYS dreamed of since the first day I joined AIESEC 4 years ago... my very own traineeship! For the past 3 weeks, I was in a state of joy and excitement, eversince I received the email from Jill that I am accepted by Mastercard International, USA. Sometimes, I kept thinking that something bad's gonna turn up and spoil everything, but here I am!!! Living my dream!

Growing up in a family where young people don't go overseas unless you have started earning your $$$.... the toughest part was convincing my family that this is the right thing to do. I took the 3 whole years of my university and AIESEC membership to convince my parents that an AIESEC traineeship can indeed add value to myself, and not just one of those travel plans that will waste my time and money.

I still remember the scene at KLIA airport. Everyone was there. All the people that I will miss... my family and friends...... sending me off at the airport. Just seeing the dear faces really made my day! My family came in 4 cars, and my friends came in more than 4 cars, I believe.... "Thank you, all of you made my day, and your faces will always stay in my heart." I am so happy, and I remember telling everyone that I'm not going to cry. ALL the sampat (means crazy in Malaysia) AIESECers laughed at my face and said I'd SURELY CRY! ;p

Well, just so you know..... I DID cry moments before entering the gate. =( I was really happy saying goodbye, but what broke me was seeing my mum crying alone. That did it!! The dam broke, and I started crying like crazy... looking at everyone's faces, I just knew that I'm going to miss them so very much. I could not bear the thought of not seeing them for the next 1.5 years. Suddenly, 1.5 years seemed like such a long time....

I cried at the gate, I cried at the terminal, and I cried on the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. (the little girl beside me kept looking at me like I'm crazy, hehehehe....) Once I reached Singapore, I called home and started crying again. Gosh.... for the 23 years of my short life, I've never cried so much before. I missed the loving faces, and I was scared of the unknown life ahead of me. What if I did not belong? What if... what if... what if(s)....

Looking back, I realised that just the experience of breaking down completely was a life learning experience. I left my comfort zone behind........ walked the path unknown........ It was so hard, but I did it. I made it!!

"I took the path less travelled, and that made all the difference..."
Just the thought cheered me up.