Perspective

(I'm posting this a day and a half after I wrote it because of time constraints. But the lack of immediacy doesn't make it any less relevant, I promise!)

There’s no turning back now. I’m mid-flight, probably somewhere over Jersey, as I write this. My eyes aren’t burning anymore from salty tears, and I’ve come to terms with the fact that this move abroad is happening, so I figure I’m at a good place to write. (United Airlines has pretty solid movie selections – think “The Lucky One,” “Brave, “Mirror, Mirror,” "Dark Shadows" and “The Avengers” – which I’m putting off to jot down some thoughts.)

I’ve been called “brave,” “courageous” and “gutsy” for embarking on this months-long adventure. And I suppose by some measures, I am those things. But, essentially, I’m on a 9-month whirlwind vacation from the real world that I would otherwise be entering as a college graduate.

I guess I’m saying that I don’t deserve so much credit. Don’t get me wrong – the support and encouragement from friends and family has been amazing. I am incredibly thankful that I have so many people interested in the next nine months of my life. I couldn’t do this if you all weren’t along for the ride. But I’m not doing anything noble over there. 

Young Americans make temporary moves abroad every day. The difference between them and me? Well, thousands of them end up in combat boots in the desert for a year or more. Others end up in scrubs in dilapidated hospitals in impoverished, remote corners of the globe. Those people are brave in a way that I will never be. In Spain, I’ll be fighting immigration paperwork and language barriers. They’re fighting al-Qaeda and AIDS.

When I start to feel sorry for myself, when I start to pout about leaving home, I think of those people – the soldiers in Afghanistan and the Peace Corps volunteers in Rwanda. I will have virtually unrestricted access to Skype, email and Facebook. I’ll be officially working a mere 12 hours a week and will do private English lessons on the side at my discretion. The rest of my time will be spent diving head first into Europe. Is that bravery? I don’t know, but I do know I’m in a better spot than a lot of young people who’ve recently packed their lives into 65 linear inches.

One final, admittedly unrelated thought: Wouldn’t theater-style arm rest cupholders be a great invention for airlines to adopt? How am I supposed to type with a cup of water in my hand?

Buenas noches,

Teresa