My First International Trip with T1D
This had been a goal that I had wanted to achieve for a long time. In today’s day and age, where rising prices and inflation are the talk of the town, this goal of mine was getting much more difficult to achieve. And although my parents have a well-respected job with good yearly income, a lot of it goes into my medicine — insulin — and my treatment.
We used to travel within our country a lot before, but this international trip was one of those things I fantasized about a lot. This was the very first time I would be going so far. And I would be doing it alone. It would be my very first solo trip.
In a strange way, I was actually looking forward to some turbulence, which is something I like — which is a bit weird, to be honest. But maybe it was because everything about this trip felt new, uncertain, exciting, and a little overwhelming all at once. It was a dream I had held onto for so long, and finally stepping into it came with its own mix of pride, fear, and determination.
In Florence at long last
It was an amazing experience! The whole trip was full of adventures and new experiences. My baggage got lost and I received it the next day, but the feeling of worry until then was consuming me. Still, all of the #voicesº were lovely, and I enjoyed talking with each and every one of them — their kindness made everything feel lighter.
I went to the Duomo and the view was to die for. I was just so lovestruck with the view that I froze for a moment. Florence is a city with which anyone can fall in love, and so I did. Every street, every building and every breath was fresh and amazing. I tried so many things like gelato, hot chocolate, risotto and many more. Bread in Europe was so hard! I even tried a sandwich from the world's most famous sandwich shop, All' Antico Vinnaio.
The conference was an amazing one, exploring so many different possibilities and research papers. I networked with so many people and got to know myself better. This was the ideal break from life I could have asked for. Thank you, God, for everything. The kindness that I saw during this trip was the rarest and the best.
Faith, Growth and the People I Met
Some lovely people I met and took pictures with made this journey unforgettable, but even more importantly, I got to know myself much better. I learnt that always being profound and deep is not a sign of intellect or the only way of truly expressing your feelings. Life is what we make it, and nothing changes in one day. But one day comes when everything changes.
During this trip, I also realized that Hanuman ji* is always with me.
In every situation, he showed me the way. There were moments when I faced difficulties and blamed him for them, but now I understand those were just tests he was taking of mine. And he helped me too. Thank you so much, Hanuman ji, for always giving your blessings.
My parents’ blessings, and the blessings of everyone who loves me, are the reason I made it this far. I just hope God blesses me and shows me the right path to walk on. I can’t repay him, but I can definitely help others, so I just wish that I become capable of doing so.
*In Indian culture, “Hanuman ji” refers to Lord Hanuman, a beloved deity symbolizing courage, strength, and unwavering support.
