I felt really nervous yet I was excited at the same time! I was at Gatwick airport with Asher, Ashley and Davy. I kept thinking about what I was going to do to keep myself entertained for a long flight journey on my own.(It was also the first time I ever flew on my own) My mind was split in two places, I felt guilty leaving Asher when he's going through his final year, and my family. The occasions I would have to miss such as my uncle David's wedding, my Grandad's 80th and a couple of birthdays....but I knew deep down I had to do this for myself, i wanted to experience a different culture of living with a family, volunteering, travelling around Sri Lanka and for these deaf children who needed to learn english. Besides it was only for 8 weeks....my suitcase was over the weight limit, how embarrassing (It was stuffed with a lot of educational games and books for the school....I admit I might've bought too much clothes!) I took out some stuff out and luckily I met the 30 kilograms weight limit. It was really the time for me to go, I didn't want to miss my flight (If I did, Asher would just say 'see...first time you're catching a flight on your own and you miss it, he would proceed to call me a dumb blonde!) I bid farewell to each one of them. Ashley gave me the look as if he was saying 'look after yourself' and i thanked Davy for driving me to the airport. I could see Asher getting a bit upset but he did well to cover it up. This was official, I am all alone now. After a long journey to Dubai which took 8 hours, I got off the plane and got greeted with a employee from emirates airline holding up my name. I was really puzzled on what all of this was about so I walked up to her slowly and gestured that it was my name, she took me through the security and I started to worry, what if I did something that irritated them enough to personally escort me? I actually laughed when I saw her going in a lounge labeled 'Special needs assistance' Ah it all made sense now! I was about to decline her help when I saw how the leather sofas looked so comfy and it had all these sort of things like Xbox, Television, and free drinks so I gladly accepted and settled myself down....poor these people sitting outside on hard plastic chairs :-) I charged up my laptop and talked to Asher/Mum via Skype, I felt a bit better after doing that because it made me more determined to go and finish the whole 8 weeks on my own. I killed some time by browsing the shops and I grinned like a cat that got the cream when I saw Ben's cookies store! I bought two white chocolate cookies! Hmm....lovely. After 6 hours of waiting I was led to the departure gate ready to catch my connecting flight to Sri Lanka.