I’ve recently returned from a short trip home, and I had a wonderful time. I had the opportunity to visit family and friends, eat plenty of delicious food, and generally relax. I reduced the amount of old belongings stored under the house by 80% and gave away all my old books, which are archived on Goodreads.

I closed my eyes, imagined being 16 again, focused on driving on the right-hand side of the road, and set off. I had just returned from Hawaii for Ian’s wedding, and what a fun, fast-paced trip it was. I left work a few minutes early on Thursday and went straight to the airport, where I boarded my 6:00pm flight to Honolulu. The flight was slightly bumpy, and I tried to sleep. My airline of choice was Jetstar, which was mediocre as always (imagine flying EasyJet for ten hours), but I knew to plan ahead.

In the previous few years, I had been fortunate enough to travel a lot. International flights no longer fazed me. After my exam, I jumped on the MRT to Taipei Main Station and had some lunch. Knowing that aeroplane meals are built for “average” appetites, I decided to eat more beforehand. Lunch was mediocre but filling, and I went upstairs to the bus terminal. The bus was already there; it left every 20 minutes or so, and I had plenty of time, but I still purchased my ticket and ran for it.

I am still in Atlanta, spending time with my sisters. One of them has just married, which is why I came to visit. One of my sisters is raising twins and a four-year-old, so I have been helping wherever possible. Time with family has been good. Last night, I drove one of my sister’s friends to the MARTA station so she could continue to the airport. On the way home, however, I became slightly lost. There were not many turns, but the distance was considerable. My sister’s directions included an uncertain street name, while my mother’s map had the wrong address circled, albeit one that seemed consistent with the directions. Eventually, I found my way home, ate some good food, and fell asleep.

Today we wandered through the hills above Santa Barbara, exploring a maze of valleys before reaching the top of one. As we looked over the city, we talked about the “good old days.” A concrete pillar stood nearby. After climbing onto it, Ben said, “I bet I could throw the football to Pav.” Both Ben and Pav had played football in high school, while I had been learning how to use Red Hat Linux 5.2.

I am keenly aware that I am getting less sleep — tomorrow night, in particular, is going to be painful. Tonight will most likely be the last night I sleep in the United States for quite a while. What an adventure. After briefly reading my last entry, I realise just how tired I was. In fact, my browser died halfway through writing about my day… We woke up, and luckily my packages arrived, including my airline ticket from Seoul to Kuala Lumpur. I’m very lucky! We ate some mac and cheese for breakfast and discussed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Many people are afraid when life becomes uncertain; I am embracing the uncertainty that will shape my life in the near future. My previous journeys have all been documented in some form of journal — this journey will be no different. Let me rewind and share the last few days. I am no longer in Portland. That city has given me so much insight into the real world, along with experiences, compassion, tolerance, and hope (no pun intended). The time has come, however, to start another adventure. I’m nearly done with my education at Portland State and feel confident that I am prepared for the next stage in my life. The weekend I left Portland was hectic, naturally, but relaxing at the same time.

It is 11:00 p.m., and my flight leaves tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. I finished packing, though. Hurrah! I made copies of my passport, I am eating my last meal, and I am ready to go. I just have to call my parents in the morning to say one last goodbye and send a few emails. Give me a mission, simple or hard, and write in the guestbook! I don’t plan on being homesick (sorry, y’all), but every hello will make my day better. Talk to you from Europe.

The flight back was just fine. In St. Louis, I called my friend Sarah from New Zealand, and after arriving in Portland, I transferred this 50-page journal to my computer. Two days later, I started working, but more happily than ever before! If you have any questions or want any tips, please go ahead and ask. There are certainly things I wish I had known, and the next time I go back to Europe, I will not repeat some of the same mistakes. One thing I will admit: those two months changed my perspective on everything.

[I wrote the following in the U.S. to sum up my trip.] I finally arrived in Munich and quickly caught a train to Venice. I met Christy in Venice early in the morning, and we wandered around all day. She showed me her hostel, which was nice but expensive, and then the rest of the city. I was surprised by how dirty Venice seemed. I had imagined a romantic city, and although the canals were amazing, it did not feel especially clean. Not Amsterdam dirty, but not exactly pristine.