Singapore Recap

Wow, it's been a very long time since I've blogged. I decided to start a new blog to correlate with my new year, new school, and new attitude. In the last year, I have discovered more about myself and the world than I could have imagined.
I wrote a blog post on my old blog after I got back from Singapore, but I never finished it and I never published it. So I'm going to use this opportunity to go back to what I was thinking and how I was feeling when I got back.

My experience in Singapore was pretty incredible, and certainly eye opening. I began my journey across the world leaving KCI with so many emotions- fear, excitement, nervousness, and of course, thrill. I was so excited to feel that rush of independence as soon as I stepped on the plane alone and began my 30 hour journey, 20 of those hours spent thousands of feet above the earth. Sure, there were some tears shed, some sweaty palms, and a racing heart, but I was ready. I had been preparing for this for a long time- including not watching the movie Taken anytime near my trip. So as I left KCI and the comfort of home behind, I saw the ground getting further and further away, along with that safety net I had been under my entire life. I made it to Houston and quickly proceeded to my next gate. I set myself up with a nice little nook in a back corner at the gate with my laptop and phone plugged in to an outlet, some sun rays beating on my face through the large glass windows, and enjoyed 2 hours of Harry Potter, uninterrupted. I called a few of my loved ones to let them know I had made it while I could still contact them, chatting for a while, and enjoyed Harry Potter. But as soon as I hung up from my last phone call, regardless of the unlimited amount of texts sent back and forth, I realized something pretty terrifying- for the first time in my entire life, I was utterly and completely alone. I was in a city many hours from home, preparing to board a 12 hour flight to Tokyo. There are no words I can think of to describe the feelings that came over me when I realized my severe solitude at that time, but I can certainly say it wasn't pleasant.
I then proceeded to boarding for my Tokyo flight. I was thankful to be in Economy Plus, but being in the middle seat of the middle row wasn't exactly ideal. I had the privilege of socializing with the women sitting next to me. The one on my left was an American teacher of English in Guatemala (I think that's where it was...).  I told her how I was going to be a Special Education teacher in a few years and we began talking about teacher stuff like IEPs, Down Syndrome, and lesson plans. I then expressed to her my fears of being alone in Tokyo, and she graciously said she would help me get through security and to my gate safely. She was extremely kind, and I was so grateful to have had her around when I was navigating through the Tokyo airport. The 12 hour flight was honestly pretty miserable. I watched a lot of movies, I had a terrible stomach ache but tried to eat the 3 free meals to get my nutrients to help prevent sickness, I read a little, I slept a little, and I had some crazy restless leg syndrome. After about 8 hours I got very antsy, and those last 4 hours were pretty miserable. But I made it! In Tokyo, I was able to connect to WiFi and chat with family, letting them know I was safe and ready for my next flight, but it was late at night at home so everyone went back to sleep. I found another nook for myself and plugged in again. I watched some more Harry Potter and enjoyed stretching out on the row of seats that I had all to myself. I dozed in and out as I waited for my next flight, but eventually I got the next rush of nerves and excitement for my final flight from Tokyo to Singapore.  As I boarded, I knew this was it- 8 more hours of flying and then I'd be there, with Chris!! I was able to sleep for a lot of the flight- the exhaustion finally caught up with me. I was given 2 free meals and some snacks, I watched a movie or two, but in those last 2 hours or so, I started to feel that terrible restless legs, antsy, ready-to-be-there impatience. When I finally made it there, I just couldn't believe it. I was literally on the other side of the earth, surrounded by strangers. Customs in Singapore was a breeze. It was around midnight Singapore time, so the airport was empty. I got my passport stamped and proceeded to the baggage claim. I saw Chris waiting for me on the other side of a large glass wall, and that's when, finally, I could breathe. I had made it!
My time in Singapore was incredible. It was truly an unforgettable experience. I was exposed to all kinds of different cultures- people from China, Malaysia, Europe, Japan, Bangladesh, India, and of course, Singapore!

There are more photos on my Facebook if you want to check them out.

One thing that really got me thinking when I was in Singapore was seeing people with disabilities and how they are treated. It was so different from how people in America are treated. Sure, many people with mental and physical disabilities in America face bullying and discrimination, but in Singapore I saw people begging on the streets for money and food with nothing but the clothes on their backs. It was really heartbreaking, and it really opened my eyes to a lot of problems in the world. This has been something on my mind ever since, and I've been looking into organizations and groups that do mission work with special needs people around the world. I really haven't found much, which makes me wonder if someday, during my time off in the summers, thats what I could do- maybe even start my own organization for it. We will see, but I can guarantee that it will be on my mind for a very long time.
So, back to my trip. Singapore was wonderful. I enjoyed getting to spend quality time with my big brother and seeing the world. It went by so fast, but I am so glad that I had the experience and that I was courageous in traveling by myself. I got to see so many amazing things- islands, beaches, buildings, city views, ocean views, exotic animals, beautiful plants, and some crazy foods! I ate soft shell crab, sushi, Singaporean chicken rice, Japanese bentos, and so much more... including the best chocolate cake I've ever had from a store called Awfully Chocolate (sooo good!). Being across the world and meeting so many different people made me realize how small the world really is. Sure, it took me an entire day to get there, but in the end, I was there. Even though we come from different places and speak different tongues, even though we have different beliefs and different faith, I know that we are all bonded through one thing- we are human. It was just incredibly liberating to understand that and see how we all fit together in this tapestry of God's work.
Going home from Singapore was not exactly ideal... I ended up having to leave a day early because of flights. I left Singapore very early in the morning and we decided just not to sleep that night so I would be tired for the flights. I got on my flight to Hong Kong and it was wonderful, apart from the fact that we waited to take off for about an hour because we had to refuel (apparently they accidentally didn't put enough fuel in to get us all the way to Hong Kong). I had an entire row to myself so I stretched out, watched a movie, and slept for a few hours! Plus I got more free food which is always nice. I got to Hong Kong feeling pretty good, but I was a little nervous being an hour late and having to get to my gate quickly to make my flight to Chicago. When I got there, the desk attendant for my flight said that I could not board. She told me there was a weight restriction on the plane and it was already full. She was very rude to me and wouldn't help me in any way to try and find a way back to the US. There were 10-20 of us who didn't get to board, most of us very upset. I was crying and so scared as someone told me I was not allowed to spend the night in the airport should I not make a flight. I was a total mess, honestly. I was so scared that I was going to be stuck in Hong Kong all alone with nothing to do and nowhere to go (and the limited amount of money I had was American money). I was standing at the gate, crying, trying to figure out what on earth I was going to do when a local flight attendant flying standby on the Chicago flight came up and asked me my name. She told me to stop crying because she was going to help me and everything was going to be just fine. She called Chris on my phone and told him how to get me registered for a flight to San Francisco leaving in less than an hour. By the grace of God, I was able to get on that flight. I flew for 12 1/2 hours to San Francisco, but I was just so thankful to be on my way to the homeland. She was risking missing her flight in order to help me... I was so thankful to her. I got super blessed and was in an exit row so I was able to stand up and stretch a lot and go to the bathroom without having to disturb the people next to me. There were no outlets on this flight, so I spent most of my time reading or sleeping. When I got to San Francisco, I had an 8 hour layover before my flight to KC. Needless to say, I was just thankful to be safe in the US and to be much closer to home. I slept for most of my layover, ate some food, and watched a couple of TV shows I had missed in the time I was gone. It was boring and I was lonely, but I was almost home, and that's all I could ask for. I finally made it home, and I was soo thankful. I had never been so glad to be in Kansas City as I was at that time. The thought of being stuck in Hong Kong still scares me, and I'll be forever grateful for that flight attendant that helped me.

There were so many things that I learned, and I still, to this day, think of those things. The modesty of the way women dressed there was so refreshing. Compared to the short shorts, cut off tank tops, bustiers, and booty skirts that every girl in America seems to be wearing, these women were like NUNS. Regardless of the 90 degree weather, they would wear capris, pants, or longer shorts and high-necked shirts, often times with long sleeves. It wasn't about their religion or any of that, it was simply the culture- valuing their bodies, dressing modestly. I loved that! It was so refreshing.

I hope I have the chance to travel many places in this world, because being to Singapore inspired me to continue to see other cultures and to appreciate God's workmanship in the world.

I'll leave you for now, but I will be posting again later today (you'll find out why!)


The Greater the Storm, the Brighter the Rainbow, don't forget that...


LJM