Julie Terekh’s Story

United Kingdom My first trip alone was probably the long walk to a bathroom in a restaurant when my mom wouldn't come along with me. Thanks, Mom. But the first major trip I took alone was a flight to Chicago. I thought I'd be flying all the way to London (England, not Canada) on my lonesome as well, but I thankfully made a friend (what's that?) who kept me company; then we realized we weren't sitting together on the plan, so I really was alone for a nine hour flight, sandwiched between a tiny Asian girl watching a drama (sidenote: I really wanted to know which one!) and another tiny woman who told me all about her home (England) and the magic I could expect there. I then lived in a huge manor home (basically a castle) for three months, travelled all across the UK and France, and maybe studied once...for about 10 minutes. It was the best experience of my life, and even though I was incredible scared and sobbing on the short 45 minute plane ride to Chicago, my anxiety that I'd be alone was worth it in the end: I made some friends!