There's no feeling in the world, the lovely reader, to compare with heading overseas for the first time, away from family and friends with no real time frame in mind for returning home. It can feel a bit terrifying but is also an exhilarating experience, full of anticipation for what lies ahead laced with a degree of apprehension due to fear of the unknown. The period of preparation leading to a long trip overseas galvanizes a prospective traveller like little else can, and it was with all these conflicting emotions swirling around in my head that I boarded a flight over the Pacific ocean destined for the land of opportunity, the United States of America. To paraphrase the famous song ... California here I come! I arrived at San Francisco airport after clearing US customs formalities ... read more