Back when I was in Korea in 2017, bright blue skies were what I missed most about America.

Today in New Jersey, the sky was so blue with beautiful wispy white clouds. While driving through my town, I made sure to commit every image to memory and pack it up in my America memory bank. I’m trying to soak in as much of my country as I can before leaving. I made sure to pay extra attention to the shining glimmers on the lake by my house today. I memorized the colors of the flowers in our garden.

Yesterday I officially got my flight information! I’m taking a non-stop flight on Korean Air and arriving in Incheon at 4:20 AM. Apparently, we’re all meeting at the airport at 5 AM to take a bus to our orientation site, which is still TBA. This trip is becoming more and more tangible with each passing day, and I’m really starting to feel like I’m leaving.

It’s bittersweet. I love my life here because this is my home. It’s hard imagining an entire year without my friends, family, and community where I have a place. Still, I’m looking forward to forging my new path in Korea, and creating my new home with a new family.