The Epiphany

The Epiphany

"Damn, It froze again." Emily bought this new state of the art software program in an attempt to make her life easier. Instead, for the umpteenth time, it froze. She held the laptop in her hands, while trembling with frustration and anger. She raised it up and aimed it at the wall, took a deep breath and screamed, "You're nothing but trouble!" Just as she was about to send it hurling into the wall, once and for all, she had a life changing epiphany.

Since starting this job two years ago, her life had become a mess. Daily battles with an uncooperative computer, an empty social calender and don't even get her started on the complete lack of a dating life. That's it, she thought. I quit. What was the use of earning all of this money, if she was going to spend the next fifty years of her life miserable and alone? No, now was the time to take action. Before it was too late. The computer may have won this latest battle, but she was going to win the war.

A few months ago she had gone to a careers expo in the city and took a flyer for a teaching internship in China. The possibility of doing something bigger and more meaningful lasted about a week and ended with the flyer being tossed into the trash. She regretted getting rid of it now, but unfortunately it was long gone. Now, what was the name of the program? She thought and thought. Ah huh, the Work Abroad Program. She grabbed her coat and bag and headed off to the local library to use the free internet. The application process only took half an hour, and she hoped that it would be the start of an incredible journey. She knew it would take months to organise visas, embassy appointments, medical checks and airfares, but it would all be worth it. Hopefully. Even if it did mean living off less than a quarter of what she used to make.

Three months later she was saying goodbye to her family and boarding the plane to China. Holding back the tears, but only barely. She knew she would miss many things, including her pet turtle, but she was looking forward to having many new experiences.