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"Mom, dad, there is something I want to tell you." switching off TV with evening news, I sit down on the couch facing both of my parents. I'm calm on the outside but my heart is pounding with excitement. "And you have to switch off my news for that? What is it?" my dad is already annoyed. "Well, I just want to let you know I'm going to Australia in one month from now. I'm aware how much you supported me in finishing studies at Uni and I appreciate it. But I feel like I'm wasting my life. I canceled my studies for some time and going to learn English in Sydney. I should be back in about 8 months." and I turned telly back on. This time it was my father who turned it off and stared at me speechless. Surprisingly, he wasn't angry at me at all while my mom started to cry quietly, shaking her head with helplessness. Part of me knew it will be hard, but seeing her like that, I felt beyond uncomfortable. Quiet voice in my head was constantly reminding me of my mantra for the next month: "Stay grounded in your decision, brave and strong. Look ahead and not behind." I sensed it will be the hardest month of my life, full of pressure, doubt and disagreement from my closest ones. And I wasn't far from truth. Using all my savings, I managed to get accommodation with Australian family, paid for English course, flight tickets, visa and insurance. I had 200,-$ dollars in my pocket. But I believed I will be just fine. Growing up in a small village with roughly 2000 people, where everybody knows each other and everybody is gossiping about each other too, I never felt I belonged there. All I've seen around me were people who didn't really seem to know who they were. They would be forced to go to mass every Sunday as children, then study a degree they never wanted to, then get married in a church to a person from the same village or village close by, make children, get a mortgage from the bank for the next 30 or 40 years and then slowly grow old not even knowing who they really were, what they enjoyed in life or what they wanted to pursue. Already as a child, I watched documentaries with my dad from all over the world and Australia always hooked my attention with its wilderness, ocean and remoteness from the rest of the world. I wanted to be as far as possible and I always believed that with everything it's the same - they throw you in the water and you either learn how to swim or you die. And so I preferred to struggle in foreign land with no connection on the whole continent and with no English either. The last month was passing at a slower pace than usual, but eventually I packed a huge suitcase like the proper newbie traveler and off I was on my way to the airport in Vienna, Austria. My mom was working on that day so she didn't come to drop me off. At least, I knew I won't be emotional with dad. I couldn't say I've ever had an amazing relationship with my father and so I knew I could remain cool and not cry when we reached the farewell moment. "Will you be all right from now on?" my dad asked without looking at me, setting my luggage down on the pavement. "Sure, I'll be ok." I replied with pretended easiness. After an awkward hug, he just drove off. Leaving me there alone for another few hours. Taking handle on my flower painted suitcase, I walked right in. Not knowing if my German was going to be of much use after leaving Austria towards Australia. I stared at a huge screen with many international flights and I realized I was on my way, right then it got real. "Adventure is out there" quiet voice in my head said. And so there I was. Looking at night sky with full moon next to my window while the whole plane was fast asleep. I watched little screen in the front of me and Australian continent appeared bellow us. "Stay brave and strong. Look ahead and not behind."