All the way from Cambodia to The United States

It was Saturday 26, 2014, the day my dream is realized and another chapter of my life begins. I know it has been very hard for them to see me off but at the same time they look so delighted. "I'm so glad to have you because you always make me so proud", said my first man in a shivering voice. I hugged him and I almost couldn't hold my tear. He made me so emotional in that fine evening. My flight departed at 8.35 pm, but we left home very early just to avoid traffic jam and some other unforeseen accidents that may happen. We arrived at the airport three and a half hour earlier.Yeah I know it was pretty early. But early is better than late. After an hour of waiting for the check-in counter to open, I get my bag checked-in. And now it's almost time for boarding. I still remember very well the moment I hugged my mom, dad and my two best sisters [in the world] very hard in my arm. It was so heartwarming, touching and of course emotional. This is the second time I left home for a long time. The first one was when I won the PETRONAS scholarship to study Information and Communication Technology at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia for four years. And now it's gonna take another two years. Alright! Time to say good bye to my beloved ones for two years. Let's call it a "see you" instead. I walked inside, and when I looked back, I saw them watching me without blinking. The plane took off. I was now at Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. It was my first time in Vietnam and you know what? something unforgettable happened to me on the first stop. I never took that long flight before, so I didn't know what I am supposed to do during the transit. I asked the lady at the airport, okay I was unlucky to ask the wrong person, and she told me to go to the immigration post. Only when the immigration officer stamped in my passport for entering Vietnam, he realized i was not here to visit. So he shouted in this language. I wasn't nervous because I know it was not my fault but I was curious what was going on. He went to his friends' desk and kept talking in his own language. I asked "What happened? Can you speak English?" he didn't say anything, then he brought me to the transit counter. Only then I know he shouldn't stamp on my passport. I didn't know how serious it is, but he really acted like the sky is about to fall. But he was very funny and kind indeed. He escorted me all the way to the gate I'm supposed to board. I had to wait for about 2 hours for the next flight. Another hour later, he was searching for me all over the place because he realized he forgot to give me another stamp for the exit. Lucky, I came back to the old place after walking around the airport. So he brought me to the immigration and sent me back to the gate. I still remember his face. My next stop is Narita International Airport, Japan. I was waiting and waiting for the final flight. It's time to board the last flight. Finally, after almost 13 hours of flying, I make it to America. Yay! Finally! it was a culture shock at the airport. I didn't know that I have to pay $5 to get the trolley when I never did so. I couldn't get access to the airport free wifi to inform my family that I arrived safe and sound. They were very worried as there were so many plane accidents happening these few weeks. I asked around, people said there is nothing free in America. You gotta pay. I want to get a pre-paid phone card which was in a kind of "vending machine", but I didnt know to use it. People were very unfriendly and in rush. So I decided to use the public telephone to call to my friend in California. Dang! I don't have any coins. I tried to exchange with the mini mart at the airport but she asked me to exchange with the money exchanger. I was like "can I just have 1 dollars exchange with you? " because nobody was there at the money exchange.  After walking here and there and found no way to reach my family and friends, I took the subway to the dorm, yeah that's the horrible experience ever I have in New York. I know I should take taxi direct to the dorm, but I thought it wouldnt be so hard because I get used the subway in Singapore and Malaysia. Oh man! It was nothing near at all. It was scary. I couldn't catch the announcement. I took the wrong line. I didn't know where to take off. People in the train don't know the station I wanna get off. What should I do? But thanks god. I met a guy who knows the station I wanna get off well and he told me to get there. I am inally at High Street station. I have one big bags and two small bags but there is no lift at all. I learn that Americans don't like to have elevator at the station but it comes very handy at this moment. I brought my big bag up and with the little help from the girl who was waiting for the train to come, I am HERE.

Hello America!
Hello New York City!
Hello St. George Residence!
Hello Fulbright fellows!

I'm glad to be here.