So I had to renew my passport the other day which means that I took my first trip abroad 10 years ago. The trip was to Vietnam with my sister after I graduated from University. The front cover still has the faded sticker with my name written on it put on there by the authority that gave me my Vietnam visa dated 2002 on page 9.
On page 11 is my Japan visa dated 2003. Category: Instructor. Remarks: JET Program. Page 18 contains the China visa dated 2005 marking the beginning of 5 months of backpacking. A second Vietnam Visa on page 19. Cambodia visa page 21, hand written and given directly on the Mekong River from Vietnam to Cambodia. Issue date: 28/09/2005. Supplemental pages begins on page A marked with the department of state seal followed by India Visa on page C. Sydney stamp 24 Nov 2005 on page D marking the beginning of the end of 5 months of travel.
Page F, France visa 2008. Page K, second visa to China 2010 needed for a trip to Asia with my now fiancé. The trip was for a wedding in Taiwan for a friend from University in the States. On the same trip I saw a friend from D.C. (now living in China), a friend I met in Japan (now living in Hong Kong), and a friend from France (doing an internship in Malaysia at the time). All these people from a different time and place in my life somehow tied together on one trip to Asia. Life can be surprising.
In order to renew my passport by mail I have to mail in the old one. Although you get the old passport back I had a hard time risking losing this passport. There, through all the pages were tangent remains of my life for the past 10 years. It was hard to let go.
Sometimes we don’t feel the time pass.I recently went to NYC for my bachelorette party and threre was a moment where I looked around at the girls that I have now known for at least 10 years. I remember who they were then, see who they are now and can’t help but marvel at how far we all have come.
Before sending in my passport I had one last look at the picture of me age 22. My hair is tied back as it always was back then and I’m wearing a grey tank top I nicked from my little brother. Even though it’s not in the picture I’m pretty sure I’m wearing running pants to match.
Yes we’ve all come a long way.
