What I have come to discover on my path to traveling abroad is that I am not the first nor the last to do so. Not really a surprise, but I was under the assumption that in a small town the would run into one or two people. No matter whom I've come across they seem to have a sibling, child, cousin, best friends 3rd cousin twice removed on their mother's side that has gone abroad.
Such stories are helpful when they include amusing anecdotes and tales of adventure complete with breath taking photo albums. The fact that the person in question is not being spoken of in the past tense is certainly helpful when assuring parents that you are not going off to a certain demise in a foreign land.
But please, good story tellers, omit the part about your children/obscure relation, not returning after their trip. It may seem cute to joke how they have fallen in love with the culture or found a romantic interest they could not part from. But for the family of those leaving, like myself, this is a very real terror that keeps them up at night. Your cute stories of love overseas are not helping.
My father is seriously considering having me sign legal paperwork, preferably in blood, that says I will come home after the year. His scenario involves a long distance phone call where I say something to the effect of, "I've met this boy Mitsubishi, we're in love, and I'm not coming home. *click*"
To which I remind my father, I am a modern woman, the boy follows me. I also maintain that said hypothetical Japanese boy will most likely be built like a Japanese car. Small and compact enough that I could smuggle him back in my luggage without having to shell out for an extra ticket.
I am a cheap b@stard at heart. A romantic but cheap.
