A Beginning of a New Beginning

Today is the day! This morning I set off at about 4:30 AM for my flight headed towards Miami, and here I have realized just how much this journey is going to grow and challenge me in the best way possible. Though I knew that saying goodbyes would be hard- I am not sure that I could have prepared for how hard it really is. In this process of leaving, I have been reminded of all the wonderful, supportive, and caring friends/family I have. A bittersweet time this has been! Through the challenges (and there have been many) I am reminded how much support and love I have around me which is extremely encouraging. Today, however, has not shown to be going according to plan. Right before the plane was going to take off- a woman noticed that the man sitting next to her had stopped breathing. Immediately, everyone began exclaiming for a doctor or nurse and going to the aid of this man. Thankfully, the man received medical assistance and unfortunately had to leave the plane. Unfortunately, this emergency meant that I would be missing my connecting flight in Atlanta and cause a delay in attending my first Peace Corps meeting/orientation. If you know me at all- which chances are that you do- you know how anxious and upset situations like these make me. I immediately began to question whether or not this was a sign and if I am even cut out for Peace Corps. However, I realized that there is a reason for everything and that it was now super important for me to relax and trust that everything would end up the way it should. I began speaking to the woman sitting next to me, exchanging pictures of the babies in our life and our travels. After we finally took off and landed, she took a bracelet off her wrist and handed it to me. She told me that it was a gift from her niece and that she hoped it brought me good luck and safety for the rest of my journey. To give me even MORE reassurance- the bracelet represented the colors of Albania’s flag. Finding such comfort and support in a total stranger is something that I never take for granted and has given me even more motivation and passion for where I am in my life at this point. This adventure is going to take patience, flexibility, and overall love for those around me; I have quickly noticed. While I feel scared for all the changes coming, I am so excited to be starting this chapter in my life and feel so lucky to be given this opportunity. So as I sit in this Atlanta airport waiting for my flight I can’t help but feel blessed! Stay tuned for more adventures as I fly to Albania tomorrow!