The Day I Got Lost

You wouldn’t think that great things can happen from getting lost, but one will be
surprised of the things you can learn from this exceptional experience.

I could feel the intense summer heat as I got off that train that morning. The early news
broadcast advised us of the highly intense heat that day and advised us to bring parasols and
extra water bottles, which, the stubborn me ignored. Till this day ignoring those warnings is
included in my long list of oversights I have made in my entire life.

It was our second day in Thailand and everything was going so well that the fourteen
year old me was not prepared for the crazy events that would take place that day. The itinerary
was to watch the water puppet show entitled Siam Niramit in Bangkok, which was popular
among tourists. We walked towards the Ho Chi Minh station and up to this day I can remember
how enthralled I was because of how clean, and pleasant the station was. It was that type of
fancy stations you find on movies, and I cannot believe that I would be able to be at one.

Comprehending what was happening that day made me realized how difficult riding a
train in a different country was, and add the fact that it was my very first train ride in my whole
life. The different language played a huge factor in my ability to comprehend what was
happening too. That day I realized that even if I’m well equipped with the English language and
that it is supposedly the global language, it is still pretty difficult to have a multi-cultural
interaction with people of different background and demographics.

After we got our tickets, we proceeded to go on the platform above to wait for the train.
I was not the only one who was practically drooling all over and appreciating the vicinity
because each of my family member was also busy scanning and appreciating the surrounding,
and chitchatting amongst themselves, that they failed to give attention to my 7-year-old cousin
who was already behind the line. Without thinking twice, as soon as I was above the platform, I
went back down to be with my cousin who was quiet the whole time. I tried to spark a
conversation to get him out of his boredom when I heard the signal that the train doors were
about to close. We quickly rushed upstairs, and as soon as I got on the platform, the doors were
closing, my family was already inside the train, and their mouths were hanged open not
knowing what to say or do.

All would have been fine if I just knew where the event would be, or what station will we
go off to. Suddenly we were a duo of minors without any idea of what to do. The only things with
me are a small bag and in it is a small phone with three available texts, an octopus card, and a
ticket for the show.

My parents raised me to be a sensible kid and stay calm whenever something bad
happens. However it is hard not to panic if you’re alone with a seven-year-old kid when you are
a kid yourself, when suddenly you are expected to step up and find a way to get out of such dire
situation. I did not scream, well, not literally. I was screaming and panicking inside. Questions
such as ,”What should I do? What will happen now? Will we be able to arrive home safe?” starts
to bombard my head.
 Despite the internal battle in my head, I remained calm and started to think. I assured
my cousin that everything will be okay and that eventually we would be able to find them. First I
tried to assess the situation, and asked what would I do in situations like this. So I told my
cousin that we should sit on the benches for a while and remain where we are because
eventually they will come back and find us.

I started to be resourceful of what I had that time too. I took my phone and used up my
remaining three texts, and even asked people around by using my ticket to point out the place I
wanted to go to. Usually, I'm that type of person who is timid around people and places that is
foreign to me, so standing up and mustering all the confidence that I have to approach people I
don't know is a huge leap from my comfort zone. I warily stopped people from walking to no
avail because they shy away whenever they realize I am speaking a different language than their
native one.

Minutes have passed and still there aren’t any replies to the messages I have sent my
family. That’s when I decided that we should pick the safest choice and that is to go back to the
hotel we’re staying at. With hopes in my heart that I would be able to see them again, I went
inside the train with my cousin. Not wanting to make my cousin feel scared I tried to muster up
all the strength I had and talked to him as if I’m not really trembling inside. As if I’m not scared
about what might happen to us two minors alone in a foreign country with no method of
communication to anyone. My mind might be that imaginative and kind of pessimistic, but my
heart is always strong and fighting. With every negative thing I think of I always make sure to
push that aside and think of the brighter side of things. Good thing that I was able to notice that
my cousin is all alone back there with no companion by his side. It is a good thing that I was able
to think quickly, went back down, and accompanied him because if I didn’t he would be all by
himself. It is a blessing in disguise, I think to myself.

But just like what the famous quote suggests, “When you’re ready to quit, that’s when
miracles happen.” As we were riding the train I caught my parents, my sister, cousins, aunties,
and uncles waving their hands, and shouting our names at the train we’re at expecting that we
be on that train. And thank God we were. Both my cousin and I exclaimed in delight, which led
to people inside the train giving us weird looks. We quickly got off that train, and were reunited
with our families.

Getting lost in a foreign country made me tough, and brought incredible experience that
made me do unexpected things. This experience taught me to set my feelings aside and think of
others instead of my own. Through this experience I was able to be independent at such a young
age. At a young age of fourteen I was able to assume a responsibility, and I was able to bring my
seven-year-old cousin to safety. This situation where a lot of people dread to be in made me step
out of my comfort zone, and led me to adapt effectively on foreign environment. I was able to
stay calm in drastic situations, and was able to critically think, and apply all the things I have
learned, whether it’d be in school or outside of school, in life.

You can learn a lot of things through unexpected troubles and failures that will shape
you into a person you never thought you could become. Getting lost might be something people
fear to be in, but knowing what I know now, I am glad that I was lost.