ENVY// AMBW

1.

I've always dreamed bigger than what I could handle, closing my eyes and thinking of all the far away lands I have yet to set my feet upon. It was a blessing to be able to hold that piece of paper in hand notifying me that it was time to enter the world as strong and as fierce as an eighteen year old could possibly get. I remember feeling the silk like paper, my parents around me, and signing my way to a new life. This was the only scholarship I had no objections to accept. All of the others were too simple for a mind like my own.

Overseas. I was to go overseas. I would know no one, and I would hardly speak to anyone, a language limiting me to being able to say hello. That's all I knew.

"This is a big step, Nala." My mother told me, her melodious voice ringing in the air. I looked over at her from the back seat. She had a smile on her face, but in her precious chocolate eyes, there was sorrow. "She'll be fine, Aviana. Let our baby soar." That was my dad.

We are very alike. His genes were a lot stronger than my mother's. I blame him for my dark skin. He's a tall, well built man in his early forty's. Behind his intimidating arms and long legs, is a kind fragile man wanting to see his daughter succeed. He never wants me to be average; he always taught me to go get it myself or someone will take my opportunity away for themselves.

My mother is quite the opposite. She's a nice caramel color with dark black, straight hair. I envy her for her looks, surely I have some traits of her's floating around in me somewhere. But I don't---you can't tell, at least. She's a good 5'6, pretty small frame. A kind woman she is, but don't let her fool you. She's not one to take no for an answer and she'd kill me if I took a no from anybody as well.

They made me into who I am today.

"I know, Emeka. But it's our baby we're talking about." Before you know it, they began talking about my soon to be departure from them. I don't recall anything from their conversation or anything leading up to when I was out the door many weeks later.

I am Amara Sauda Kalu and I've signed myself away to a very distant land: Gyeongi-do, South Korea. I am a student at Dankook University.

From the very moment I entered the Seoul airport, I knew I was in for a wild ride...

"Seoul-e osin geos-eul hwan-yeonghabnida!"

What in the hell did I get myself into?

[I'll try to keep most stuff in English, because I don't know Korean myself so for the things that are in Korean they will be translated.]

Translation: Welcome to Seoul, Korea!