This past summer I was accepted into a volunteer program in La Alberca, Spain.
There, I spent 10 days with Spanish students in my age range improving their english communication skills. Receiving the confirmation for this experience excited me but in the rear of my mind lived a huge fear of flying then living across the world for two weeks without my mother. Conquering the fear of traveling alone to a foreign country and having the experience volunteering was both an obstacle and enlightening experience in my life and has influenced my growth into young adulthood.
As my departure date neared, the fear of flying alone to a foreign country grew. My Grandmother was overly concerned for my welfare and her concern increased my paranoia of traveling out of America. I feared getting lost in the airport and never reaching the camp or being kidnapped and never seeing my family again. When the day came I remained strong; and as the day rolled by, my anxiety level began to go down and my excitement level began to increase. I was more focused on arriving and enjoying myself than being worried about not arriving at all.
My mother and I had dinner together and waited until my boarding time. This is the first time we would both be so far apart from each other. I think the feeling of separation anxiety was a type of shared obstacle. That fear of the unknown and not really having the physical closeness was almost overwhelming for both of us. We both had to take a few deep breaths and face it together. It was a learning moment for both of us. Eventually, I boarded the plane, found my seat and prepared for takeoff. …show more content…
I tried to remain calm but my fear took over me. I had flown before, but never out of the country and surely not for more than two hours. Being that this was a nine hour flight, I was even more nervous. I began to cry and think of all the worst possibilities. Initially, I was unable to sleep but once I finally closed my eyes, time flew just as the plane did. When I woke, there was an hour left until arrival, and I began to listen to music to calm my nerves. My meditation soothed my mind and I was able to settle into the thought that everything would be fine. I was becoming an independent young woman. Once I arrived at the airport in Madrid, it was easier to navigate than I expected. The camp counselors were waiting for me at baggage claim and escorted me to the bus where the other students waited. Meeting the other English speaking students reassured me that I wasn’t the only one with a fear of traveling alone. The week progressed, and I became very comfortable with the other students aswe grew close. We shared personal stories and exchanged numbers to keep in touch with each other, and the last day of camp was full of hugs and tears as we were not prepared to leave with a risk of never seeing one another again. On the flight home, I reflected on my trip and came to the conclusion that overcoming my fear of flying long distances alone was the most challenging thing I’d ever accomplished. I was separated from my family for two weeks, had to survive a nine hour flight overseas, and had to leave my great, new friends I met at camp. From
There, I spent 10 days with Spanish students in my age range improving their english communication skills. Receiving the confirmation for this experience excited me but in the rear of my mind lived a huge fear of flying then living across the world for two weeks without my mother. Conquering the fear of traveling alone to a foreign country and having the experience volunteering was both an obstacle and enlightening experience in my life and has influenced my growth into young adulthood.
As my departure date neared, the fear of flying alone to a foreign country grew. My Grandmother was overly concerned for my welfare and her concern increased my paranoia of traveling out of America. I feared getting lost in the airport and never reaching the camp or being kidnapped and never seeing my family again. When the day came I remained strong; and as the day rolled by, my anxiety level began to go down and my excitement level began to increase. I was more focused on arriving and enjoying myself than being worried about not arriving at all.
My mother and I had dinner together and waited until my boarding time. This is the first time we would both be so far apart from each other. I think the feeling of separation anxiety was a type of shared obstacle. That fear of the unknown and not really having the physical closeness was almost overwhelming for both of us. We both had to take a few deep breaths and face it together. It was a learning moment for both of us. Eventually, I boarded the plane, found my seat and prepared for takeoff. …show more content…
I tried to remain calm but my fear took over me. I had flown before, but never out of the country and surely not for more than two hours. Being that this was a nine hour flight, I was even more nervous. I began to cry and think of all the worst possibilities. Initially, I was unable to sleep but once I finally closed my eyes, time flew just as the plane did. When I woke, there was an hour left until arrival, and I began to listen to music to calm my nerves. My meditation soothed my mind and I was able to settle into the thought that everything would be fine. I was becoming an independent young woman. Once I arrived at the airport in Madrid, it was easier to navigate than I expected. The camp counselors were waiting for me at baggage claim and escorted me to the bus where the other students waited. Meeting the other English speaking students reassured me that I wasn’t the only one with a fear of traveling alone. The week progressed, and I became very comfortable with the other students aswe grew close. We shared personal stories and exchanged numbers to keep in touch with each other, and the last day of camp was full of hugs and tears as we were not prepared to leave with a risk of never seeing one another again. On the flight home, I reflected on my trip and came to the conclusion that overcoming my fear of flying long distances alone was the most challenging thing I’d ever accomplished. I was separated from my family for two weeks, had to survive a nine hour flight overseas, and had to leave my great, new friends I met at camp. From