If you really knew me, you would know that things don’t come that easily for me. You would know that sometimes letting go is the hardest part, and that I like order. Everything requires a plan, and a possible backup plan, should things go wrong.

The troubles of my travel to Urbino began the minute I stepped on flight 349, departing California for New Jersey. This was my first time traveling out of the country on my own. Leaving at 7:05 a.m. in the morning, I began what I believe to be a defining day-and-a-half period in my life. While it is one of my most recent memorable experiences, I know that twenty years down the road it will still be one of those distinct moments in life where I reinvented myself in a way like never before.

When I finally arrived in Rome, Italy at 1:30 in the afternoon, I knew that instead of worrying about what was ahead (e.g., whether I would be sleeping in the train station, a hostel, the street, or a bed in Urbino), I had to take each step of my journey sequentially. I threw out the plan that I had so carefully crafted. The papers bound tightly together, multiple itineraries were now useless. A cell phone that did not make calls out was no help at all. A baggage claim ticket and receipt would now be used to file a missing claim.

I walked out of the airport and stood near the sign where we were originally supposed to meet.   “Meeting Point,”  it read in large letters. In a split second I made one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. I could either sit and wait following the carefully crafted plan or come to terms with reality that after scanning for a few minutes it was too late and the group I was supposed to meet had left without me. Are they still at the airport? Should I sit and wait for an indefinite answer? This was the now or never where I had to take my journey into my own hands, an uncertain fate, my own adventure.

For the first time in my life, I felt truly alone. Not the type of alone when your roommates leave your apartment for a few hours or when your parents go out of town. There was no time for worrying, waiting, being nervous, or crying. It was time to just let go.

Through the series of  unfortunate events, I met people who not only helped me arrive at my destination safely, but gave me hope in my belief that people are truly good and want to help others. In one day I was able to meet two people who opened their hearts to me and helped me along the way to reach my final destination. I will always value the connections I made that day when I reached Rome on my way to Urbino.  Tuyl, a world traveler from New Orleans who bought my train ticket to Termini station from the airport in Rome and promised to not leave me until I was on my train to Pesaro. In a thunder and hail storm her and her sisters ran with me back to the train station so I could purchase my ticket to Pesaro. And Laura, a sweet Italian girl from Pesaro who talked with me on the long train ride. Ultimately through this experienced I learned about myself and that I am capable of overcoming any challenge I am faced with.

Train ride to Pesaro

The man next to me on the train from Termini Station in Rome to Pesaro fell asleep several times as he gazed out the window at the passing suburbs.