"Good bye, Kolab" they all wave while my mother and my grandma are in tears. Although strangers are running and catching up with their departures, all I hear is silent. Slowly waving back, small drop of tears steadily run down my cheeks hitting the hard on the white, clear tiles. They are not falling due to the distancing of my family and I but because of the excitement to independently live a life at a new college surrounded by a diverse group of people in a developed country.

My name is Ros Kolab, so-called Tang Jiao Yue. My half chinese grandparents give me this beautiful Chinese name. I am a Cambodian girl. I live in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is a beautiful country with many temples especially in Siem Reap. I grew up in a small village in the countryside where I can hear the rumbles, feel the vibration, see many airplanes with tourists coming to visit Siem Reap, and dreaming to ride on one. Despite the fact that i am a countryside girl, I live up with a big dream and big goals. As a lucky girl among the kids in the small village, I got accepted into a nonprofitable organisation where I  am trained to learn English and Khmer curriculum attentively. Thankfully, with my hard work and amazing preparation from the school, I successfully get a full scholarship to Tasaki college.All my childhood and school life, I have been depending on the scholarship and help from the school and my supportive family.  I am grateful for all of these but it is time for me to stop being too dependent. The scholarship to Berea college is my ticket to step out side of the comfortable box that I have been for these past 18 years and independently guide myself into the new world.

Yes, this is the reason why all my family is here while some are shedding in tears. The announcer's voice from the speakers echos all over the area as I rush for my plane's gate while waving my last good-bye. Good-bye to the amazing temples, kindhearted people, and the beautiful country. My time has come where I have to step into the new world where there s no presence of my comfort zone. As I ascend high into the clouds, the young dependent mind of mine switches off, waiting for a new different mind to develop once the plane descend into the busy Lexington airport.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR : This is my first time writing a novel. Please leave a like, subscribe, and comments. I am open to constructive feedback.

As I make my way through the crowded airport with my heavy luggage, I see a bright blue sign saying "WELCOME TO TASAKI COLLEGE". Holding the sign is a tall slim guy wearing black shorts and a white t-shirt with a navy blue sweater.

    "Nice color choice! Ain't bad" I smile with satisfaction.

He has his air pods on and nod his head solemnly along with the song. I exhaustedly push my luggage toward him and shyly say hi. Shockingly, he just replies with s a quick hi along with a forced smile return to his boring neutral face.

    "Follow me," he demands raising his voice.

    "Hiyah, are all rich American kids like this? How many are there in the college? Oh my Buddah, all my dream about America has been smashed into pieces by this guy." I ask myself with a heavy sigh while examining him again from head until toes.

As I am struggling to death with my burden luggage, another tall slim guy wearing the college's hoodie and a pair of light blue jeans approach me with a warm smile.

    "Hi, let me help you" he offers with a heart warming smile causing me to turn red like a tomato.

    "Thank you so much," I hesitantly answer as I stick out my tongue at the rich-kid guy who has already took off his air pods and slowly approach us.

    "So you have return from the bathroom, Mr. Andrew" he monotonously says  " I thought you are sleeping in there." He smirks and looks at me. I stare back like a statue and fix my gaze at brand new shoes.

    "I swear, if he doesn't have the sign, I would have think he is high class human trafficker." I mumble softly to myself.

" What are you saying?" the friendly guy said.

    "Nothing haha, umm,  I m just tired from the luggage." I stutter and smile at him

    " Oh, I forget to introduce myself. Please forgive me." he says as he politely arranges his hoodie ." My name is Andrew Smith. I am responsible to pick you up. The guy just then is Brian who is my best friend. His Chinese name is Huo Jiang Ting. Just call him Brian. He doesn't like anyone to call him by his Chinese name especially a stranger like you."

    "Ohh. My name is Kolab. I also have a Chinese name which is Jiao Yue. You can call me by any name. I don't mind." I softly chuckle.

 "Nice name, I prefer Jiao Yue. It's easier for me. Let's go, Brian is waiting." He grabs my luggage outside and heads out to college.

I continuously take pictures and look outside the window, enjoying the amazing sites. A few minutes later, my eyes gets heavy and I wave my last good-bye to the buildings outside. After a few our, I feel a hard pillow rising up and down and I excitedly explore it with my closed eyes. Little did I know later that it wasn't any pillow. Its Brian's chest.