I scanned through each letter, searching for the life changer. “No. Nope. NADA!” I threw them to the ground before one caught my eye. I carefully picked it up and looked to see who it was to….. BINGO! I gathered the rest of the envelopes into my satchel, pulled my scarf to my face, and bolted out the post office’s doors straight home.

 Careful not to slip on any ice, I raced to the front door. Throwing it open, I could barely contain my excitement, “Mom! It came! The letter came!” I threw myself into the kitchen with my mother not far behind.
 

“Well, what are you waiting for? Open it or I will,” my mom shouted while trying to rip the envelope out of my hands.
 

Avoiding her grasp, I sat on a bar stool and tore open the top. It was as though heaven was shining down on this very moment. I carefully removed the letter from its hold and took a deep breath. This was it. This was the only school I applied to. Wrong of me, I know, but it was this school or no school. It just felt so right. I finally started unfolding my fate before my mom snatched the letter out of my hands. “M-mom!”
 She shoved her finger to my lips and started to read, “Dear Ms. Skylar Ray- Ooo, they said ‘Ms.’, how professional!”
 

“Mom!”

 “Alright, alright,” She dramatically cleared before continuing, “We were very intrigued by your application…

 It’s not often we receive such things from applicants immediately without prior studies. However, we reviewed it with great interest. Due to a changing world, universities and colleges around the world are urged to gain as much diversity as possible. The international students accepted are advised to not take their studies lightly and to indulge themselves into the surrounding cultures. Since, your application was beyond exceptional and we see great potential in you, we hear by…

 “ACCEPT AND WELCOME YOU TO EWHA WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY!! YOU MADE IT!!” My mom started squealing and jumping around like a squirrel on crack. While she did that, all I could think about was what I was going to do. I’ve only ever been out of the state twice for band concerts. This certainly was no high school concert. I’ll need to find a place to stay, start learning Korean, and tell all my friends what’s going to happen. Aw crap! And I’ll need to switch currencies! So… Much… To do… And now there’s a tapping on my head! Wait- tapping? Voices are normal but- “Earth to my daughter! Listen, I’m not sending you away if you’re not even going to listen to your own mother! Or should I say eomma-ni? Yeah, don’t give me that look, I learned it from all of your little music CD’s! Aren’t I a hip mom?” She did a quick snap of the fingers and it took everything inside of me to keep from laughing.
 

“Yes, but they’re called albums. Well, I guess they could be called CD’s. Anyways,” I ruffled my hair in frustration and put my arm around her shoulder, kissing her cheek, “We need to prepare! I’ll need to leave by June 1st and it’s already May 17th. I’ll need to pack, tell everybody, buy new equipment, find a place to stay, and learn more Korean!” Moving to the heart of South Korea and I only know the basics. I am a lost cause.

 Mom simply put the letter on the fridge- alongside every report card since sixth grade- and patted my head. “Now don’t you worry your pretty little head! I’ll handle the living arrangements and your new gadgets. Just march yourself right up those steps and start calling everybody! C’mon, move it!” She shoved me, giving me a pat on the . Oh how she knew how much I hated that, it was obvious by the way she quickly ran to the coat rack. “Now don’t throw a wild P. A. R. T. Y? While I’m gone! Haha, see what I did there? Told you that I’ve been listening! Anyways, I’ll be out for a bit handling everything. Love you, Skylar!”

I only started to say goodbye before she was out the door. Letting out a sigh, I walked to my room. I swear that that lady’s more excited about it then me! I pushed open my door, since it was broken that’s all that was necessary, and sat on my bed. I’m really leaving. I’ve lived in this house, in this town, all my life. I’ve watched friends and relatives come and go and I guess it’s my turn now. Oh Michigan, how I’ll miss you. I lay my head down and pulled out my phone. This is it, once I call everybody, there’s no turning back. I slowly dialed the first number, then the next, and repeated the process. By the end of the ordeal, three hours had passed and I had gotten the same response from everybody: “WHAT? Leaving? Aw, Skylar! Before you leave, we’re hanging out!” Of course the only person I’ll see is my best friend, Lauren. Why? She’s the only person left in town for the summer. Everyone else wanted to escape the cold. Yeah, it lasts until mid-June up here.

Pulling up my laptop, I brought up iTunes and Amazon’s home page. I needed to tell my mom what camera to get me. I’m a phenomenal photographer and plan on entering Ewha’s art branch. Hopefully I’ll be skilled enough to work with an idol group. Or better yet, make the front page of Geographic or New York Times. Or have my pictures on the billboards in Seoul, Broadway, Tokyo, or Hollywood! Ah, so many possibilities. Turning on B.A.P.’s Power, I pulled up the Canon page and scrolled down. There, the newest version. Fairly cheap too. I texted my mom the name of the camera and how much. Now to wait for the response. Ring ding dong, ring ding dong, ring ding a ding ding a ding ding dong.
 

Sent from: Mommy   at 5:28 P.M. May 17th, 2012.

Are you positive that that’s the one? I’m at Best Buy now, make sure.  I also spoke with some family members and figured out a living plan for you in Korea!
 

Love yooooou ^^  

Sent to: Mommy at 5:33 P.M. May 17th, 2012

Positive! Just tell them that I’m a student and they’ll give you a discount. I’ll start packing now and should be done by the time you get back. I already called everybody so that’s another thing out of the way. Tell me the plan when you get home!
 

Loooooooove you more ^^

 I shut off my phone and lay back down. I changed the songs to my ‘Sleepy Songs’ playlist and shut my eyes. I allowed my mind to wander all the opportunities that are available to me in Korea. New friends, new school, and I can play my music out loud without the neighbors complaining! Yup, watch out Seoul! This 17-year-old is ready to show you what she’s made of!

*   *   *   *

 “Huzzah! This is perfect momma, thank you!” I kissed her on the cheek and set my new camera on the coffee table. I sat on the couch and motioned for her to do the same. “So, tell me, where am I living when I get to Korea?” Her face was practically beaming with excitement. “Well…?”
 

“Promise you won’t scream? You have to promise me!” She held out her pinkie.
 

“I promise,” I said while interlocking our little finger.
 

“You have a cousin on your father’s side in Korea. I’m almost positive that you’ve heard of him!” She clapped her hands together in pure delight. Meanwhile, I sat there utterly confused. For one: Who could I possibly know in Korea? For two: My father was ASIAN? I had absolutely zero trace of Asian features on my face! I looked 100% like your typical American. Mom cleared before continuing, “You’ll be staying with your cousin Ellison! Skylar, are you O.K.? Remember, you promised!”
 

Oh, so that’s who I knew… Yeah, I know OF him. “I’m sorry but I think I’m going to have to break this promise…” I stumbled out of my seat and headed straight for the nearest bathroom. I pulled the dark hair out of my eyes and studied my face. No way was I related to that guy. No way was I related to the Eli Kim. Of U-KISS. Only my favorite K-Pop idol group. No, it had to be a mistake. It’s a different Ellison. A pure coincidence! Yeah that’s it. Besides, I looked nothing like a pigeon, right? I turned to the side and brought my hands up like wings. Nooo, if anything, you’re a chicken. I proceeded to bob my head back and forth. That’s when the promise was broken.

 “Skylar?? Are you O.K.??” Mom banged on the door, worried.

 “I’m fine…. Just…… shocked…” I LOOK EXACTLY LIKE A PIGEON!! I sunk down to the floor, almost in tears. Fantastic day it’s been. I get accepted into the college of my dreams, get a new camera, and find out that I’m going to be living with a member of U-KISS. Omo, how will I explain that to Lauren? No, I won’t. She’ll just have to wait until she visits! Yeah, that’s what I’ll do. Aigoo…