Here I am in NYC. It's the first stretch of my trip, a kind of buffer zone across the country before I take off overseas. I am having an absolutely wonderful time so far. I got to stay with my childhood best friend Kayla, whom I've loved since I was 6 but hadn't seen in 7 years because we've been busy building our lives on opposite coasts. Even though it feels like it's been a lifetime since we last saw each other, we connected on a deep level as we discussed our...

I'm not sure I fully believed this day would ever come. Here I go!!

Today's the day I take off, although technically it's 1230 in the morning. I feel restless. My throat is bothering me, and I'm worried it could be strep throat again. I just finished getting it twice in a row, and I'm really ready to not be sick for a while. I would hate to be sick while traveling, especially solo. I'm excited and not particularly nervous, although it hasn't sunk in that this is all real. It's hard to imagine myself in just a week on my own acro...