The time to pack my bags and head to the airport has finally come. Staying up all night in hopes of sleeping well on the plane, I am focused on getting through security and settling into a seat. My flight from Charlotte to JFK is great; I end up making friends with the stewardess, discovering she went to school at the university 15 miles from mine… in the middle of Nowhere, Indiana.

“This is going to be a great trip,” I think to myself. “Already it’s going so smoothly.”

The plane from JFK to Delhi boards on time. As I settle into my seat, I realize that I am one of two fair-skinned individuals on the flight. “Gotta love cheap airfares,” I think to myself.

At this point, I have been up for 32 hrs, and I am completely exhausted. I am just ready to rest my head somewhere and sleep. Not long after finally dozing off, I awoke to screaming babies and a plane that had yet to move.

The pilot announces on the intercom, “There seems to be a problem with our plane. They have discovered a hole in the wall of the plane, and they are working to fix it. It should only be about 15 minutes. We’ll keep you informed.”

… 15 minutes turns into 15 more… and 15 more…

Four and a half hours later, and there is still no progress. Hot, musty air, screaming babies, and the slightly creepy man sitting next to me were not helping my sleep deprivation. I begin to remember all the inconveniences that can come with travel.

For a brief moment I think, “Why am I doing this?”

Now, if you know me, you know that it’s generally pretty easy for me to look on the bright side of life. I’m an optimist and can usually find the good in any situation. This particular situation, however, was not making it easy to be thankful and excited about the opportunity ahead. There was little that was pleasant or comfortable, and all I wanted was to sleep — or at least to know that the plane was moving and we were on our way.

I started to think more about that question, “Why am I doing this?” I mean, it would be so much easier to be sitting at home on a comfortable sofa, watching a movie with friends in a familiar, climate-controlled setting.

Then I remember, “I’m doing this because there’s a story that needs to be told.”

Fourteen hours later we landed in Delhi and went through security. I nearly missed my final flight to Kolkata (Calcutta) due to an unannounced gate change. Finally seeing a bed at my friend Vanessa’s house was a great relief.

Image: My bed (far right), in Vanessa’s home, next to her sisters and hers.