The Journey will FINALLY begin

It's been over a month since my anticipated date of departure came and went. The past month has been a long one of waiting. However, the unending toil that is the minutia of acquiring a visa is finally at its end and a flight has been booked for this upcoming Friday. For those of you who doubted I would ever leave, I can't say I blame you. That's exactly something that would happen to me.

My current state is equal parts eager exhilaration and anxious trepidation. I've never been out of the United States with the exception of a few weekend, and one week-long, excursions to our neighbors to north. While I enjoyed my time there, the sense of being an international traveler isn't entirely present when you can drive back home the same day if you so desired. This is a reality that has weighed on me for quite some time so it only made sense to go as far from home as possible for my first trip out of North America. Still, my concern sits largely with the knowledge that I will be away from friends and family for an entire year and less with my hesitation about being immersed in a country and culture wholly unlike my own. Though difficult I look forward to that being one of the most exciting aspects of the entire experience.

This last week in the country will mostly be spent getting ready and saying my good-byes to the few people I will see between then and now- most of which I have already said my "last farewells" to once or twice. Hopefully I can get a few more rounds of disc golf in and maybe share couple of more beers before I take off but I know those things and more will be waiting for me when I return in a year's time so I'll be playing it as it goes either way.

I just wanted to get this thing up and running and hopefully get it circulating before I head out so those of you who are interested can keep tabs on my progress.

More posts to come...


World Baseball Classic tonight! Japan vs. SOUTH KOREA!!! Go get em Choo Shin-Soo and company!