Ilha Formosa*

I'm leaving for Taiwan on March 23 and will be back home on April 3. It is nerve-wracking and weird, but I think I'll get more excited once I am within a few hours of landing. Right now, I am just focused on all of the things I'll either forget or wish I had while I was there. Shopping for vacations should be fun, right? Not when the clothes that you love or shoes that are so cute will not fit no matter what.

I will admit, it makes me feel strange when I think about flying to the other side of the globe by myself. I am afraid I may become homesick - even while on the plane, where there is nowhere for me to go and nothing to be reversed. Not that I would want to come home. It is hard to explain. But since it will take me a full day to get there, I will surely endure some mental challenges that will test my ability to stay sane, positive, and motivated. Here's hoping I'm up for that challenge.

My host has agreed to take me to lots of cool places on the island. I am grateful for his friendship and willingness to take on the task of housing a foreigner for 10 days of his precious time. How do you thank someone for such a thing?

I think I'm ready to go. Between now and Tuesday, I hope that God will give me the confidence and strength that I need to board the plane. Especially since I have been sick for the last three weeks. A mild illness, but enough to be annoying and suck the energy out of me long before the day is over. I have not been ill for three weeks straight for as long as I can remember. The last thing I want is to be sick 8,000 miles from home.

On the brighter side of things: every time someone asks me where I'm going for my trip and then hears my response, they are always surprised and I love hearing their reaction. "Taiwan?," they say with a raised eyebrow. Most think it is cool and would love to come along; my parents are not two of those individuals, however. If they had it their way, I would never go on vacation anywhere outside of my zip code.

In less than 48 hours, I'll be on my way.... Wish me luck!

*Ilha Formosa is what the Portguese named Taiwan upon discovering it during the 16th century. It means "beautiful island" in Portuguese.