My essay will be submitted in about 1 or 2 hours so, quick comments would mean so much :) such as length, writing style, etc.
Topic: Tell about an experience in which you left your comfort zone and how it changed you.
On my way to the Philippines, I had no idea what to expect. It was the first time I was travelling there in ten years. I was excited but for some reason had some foreboding feeling as to what would lie ahead. I have been there once prior but I was merely five years old and the thought of being an older female in a country corrupted by crimes was nerve-wracking. On top of all that, I missed my dad who does not like to fly therefore I was alone in a country with my mom and brother without a true sense of security.
When I arrived to the Manila Airport, it seemed like an alternate universe. Everyone was moving briskly, speaking in Tagalog, the native language of the Philippines which I cannot understand. I felt as if I was in a dream, just walking along uncomfortably until my mom grabbed my hand whispering "Do not get too far away because I will never see you again". This is what scared me the most. A foreigner getting taken hostage was a regular occurrence in the Philippines, especially in Manila and I was stuck there for a month. I remember that I have never been more on edge in my entire life. While at a Money Gram center, receiving money from my father, my mom was backed into a corner and nearly robbed, so I felt that I was in constant danger everywhere I went. To make matters worse, every time we entered a taxi or an enclosed area my brother and I were told not to speak because if bystanders were not aware of us being half American, they would be when we spoke perfect English.
Throughout the month, while I had enjoyed the hospitality and beauty that the Philippines had to offer, I had to battle the uncomfortable looks of older men. This has always been the most disturbing thing for me and still is to this day. Along with the stares and my futile attempts to make them stop, I just had to accept that this was cultural and that I was endangering myself more by making rude comments towards these people. One day my aunt pulled me aside and said "Kim, they only stare at you because you are beautiful and different, not because they want to hurt you". After that, I came to the realization that even though paranoia can help protect myself from danger, it was also hindering my chances of enjoying my vacation as well. While the Philippines is a dangerous country, especially for Americans, I saw that simply being aware of my surroundings would keep me out of harm's way.
Coming back to America, I felt a sense of relief that I was back in my home country. Even though I was glad I was safe, I regretted being so introverted and protective because I missed out on valuable experiences that many people do not have the opportunity to feel. It has changed me because I have learned to not be concerned with how others see me whether it be positive or negative because the only thing I can affect is how I let myself perceive it. My travelling has also taught me to have courage because my feeling of overprotective self security was detrimental and I learned to be simply aware of what was happening around me rather than be paranoid of what could happen.
