Caroline’s View

When my dad asked me if I would go around the world I said, “Sure.” Like we were ever going to do that!

The trip started out as a secret and something we could only talk about as a family – and with no one else. I never thought it would happen. I was sure it was just another one of my dad’s crazy ideas that would never be possible.

My dad would sit in his office all day researching and learning about other families who had done this before (I have no idea how he still earned a living while doing this).

I never really thought much about the trip until now, with less than five months till we leave.

There are a lot of good things that will come from this trip, like learning about new cultures, becoming closer with my family (as if we aren’t close enough already), and learning in new and different ways.

There are also some bad things, like being with my family 24/7 for a whole year and being in a new place every week. Probably the worst thing for me will be living out of a suitcase for a whole year. I’m not going to like wearing the same things over and over and only having two pair of shoes.

People reacted very differently as we told them the news. For example, when we told my grandmother (my dad’s mom), she kept changing the subject.

My other grandparents (my mom’s parents) did not say anything except, “Pass the potatoes.” Yeah, that was awkward.

But most people have been very supportive.

Still I worry about what it will be like when we come back. Will my friends have changed? Will I be behind in tenth grade? Will my life even be the same?

I don’t know the answer to any of these questions. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.