As I prepare to be dropped off at O’Hare International Airport, I’m starting to feel something new – nervousness. Up until this point I have been extraordinarily excited for my trip to Kathmandu, Nepal, anxious, but in a fascinating way. Today, for the first time, it really hit me: this is really happening. For the first time since I decided to plunge into the unknown and travel on the opposite side of the world, I’m feeling nervous and a little bit scared. Butterflies in my stomach, to use the cliche. Although this feeling is new to me, I remember to take a deep breath and think of what’s to come – in two days I will be starting my semester in a wonderful place and embarking on a life-changing adventure. When I remember this, I start to calm myself down and feel the excitement once again.
