Let’s rewind here.

2007.

I was working as a Service Coordinator for a non-profit agency. I was fresh out of University. Loving the job, however emotionally exhausting it was, it was MY job. My first full-time “grown up” job. I had a hoopty for a car, saving all my pennies, living at home with family, just graduated and dating a potential ‘the One’. I was doing fantastic. I was on my way to greatness. Right?

2008 hit. With a bang.

The Great Recession. I blame the Great Recession. It took my job, my hoopty (even if it WAS on its way out) and the man- I had fallen in love with. As if all that still wasn’t enough… 2008 stole my self-confidence. Whatever was left of it.

Alright. I know I cant blame it all on the economic downturn… but it started the Domino effect. So… there. I was in the dumps. Covered in it. I think I may have even ingested some of that stuff. Sigh. It took me about 3 weeks to get over the ‘I’m a recent graduate with no income’. One week to get over selling my car. And a solid 9 months to just stop obsessing over the break-up, tearing it apart bit by bit and playing the blame game between him and I. It had to stop.

2009. End of Scene.

At the end of the 9 months. I gave birth…. to a great idea. Actually my friend Sasha did. She introduced me to this non-profit based out of Miami, FL where I would get the chance to teach English in China. My interest was peaked. I started the application process and although I hadn’t taught ever, I thought it would still be a great adventure and if nothing else… the best distraction. Nothing holding me back… other than false hope. I was in a “he’ll stop me” zombie mode. An hour before my flight is set to take-off he will reach out to my sister, get my flight information, run to the airport and with security running behind him, he will have ran to my gate and yelled out “DONT GO”……. that’s when the cameras would have zoomed into my over-joyous face and tears running down my cheeks and an almost silent yes spilling out of my lips.

NOPE.

I got on the stupid flight. Broken-hearted and in pieces to Hangzhou, China.