Minjung Lee

Crossing Continents: The Quiet Grief of Leaving Home

Honestly, I didn't think much about my life abroad. I was simply waiting for my exam results, so I didn't know for sure whether I would be leaving or not. Mid August, I got my results: I had passed! A few days later, my mom and I packed my luggage and I said goodbye to her at the airport. It was my first time to be on a flight all by myself. Before going on board, I cried and cried like those characters in movies. I hate crying when others are around, but I couldn't help it! You know, moving abroad is often illustrated as starting a new, fresh and exciting chapter. For me at least, it felt like closing this long, beloved chapter of my 18 years of life. I had no big worries about dealing with stuff by myself. I was just incredibly sad to leave behind my family, especially my mom who means the world to be me. She is my mom, my best friend, and the reason of my existence. Only the thought of her brings tears to my eyes. So how can I survive without her near me?