If the world is a book and I am the reader, then I would say I have only read one chapter. In the chapter I have skimmed over, there is a woman who has travelled previously. She has explored countries such as Vietnam, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Unlike before, however, she is visiting Italy and France without any family members accompanying. She is going to diverge into an environment where half of the population knows broken English and cultural standards are beyond familiarity.

They say traveling alone is an experience like no other. There is no one to truly speak to unless there is enough courage to talk to someone new. The strength to ask for help, to try a new language, and to trust a stranger are immense. Placing trust in unfamiliar faces is one thing; placing trust in yourself is another. It is a particular difficult task when the individual is not assertive, not out-spoken, and a shy introvert in nature. It isn’t because she wanted to be this way—it’s just how her family culture raised her to be. In her culture, speaking out is a means of being egotistical and self-centered. It is a selfish trait. However, the trait is absolutely critical for her travels to France and Italy. 

In France, she had very little recollection of the language she once new in high school but quickly she was patient enough to relearn the basics. Solo travel became second nature and allowed her to explore more about herself than she ever knew. She never knew the baseline of her patience, tolerance, and adaptability. Knowing the general idea gives her the advantage when studying abroad in a town called Sorrento in Italy. 

Working with people who have disabilities can truly test a person’s patience and tolerance but with her, she knew exactly what to do. In order to maintain a balance between her and the individuals, she had to be assertive. She had to say how she felt when she didn’t condone certain behaviors. While it was a challenge, it was nothing compared to the amount of courage it took for her to address misconceptions and negative attitudes in public when the individuals with disabilities faced adversity. It became a matter of speaking out for not just herself but for others. It takes a great deal of bravery to say how one feels but to defend another person is a new ballpark. 

On the topic of new areas, she was thrown into the Italian language like a child thrown into a pool. No one told her how to swim, she had to teach herself if she wanted to survive. There was no dictionary or internet where she traveled. All she had was her ears. The ability to learn through listening is a powerful tool that she never knew she had but it’s no surprise either considering she learned Vietnamese through her household conversations. 
It’s all one chapter. It’s the start of a book—a book about her. There was still many chapters to read, each chapter entailing a new country and a new culture. The world is meant to be explored. It’s one thing to learn through reading but to go through it on a firsthand account is incredible. There’s more to learning that one could think. It’s beyond language and culture but it’s learning about people and oneself.

This is a book that I cannot wait to read
This is a book about me and how I learned to love myself and the world around me