Chapter 1 - Student Exchange Program
The sun flooded into Derek's room as the day took it's shape. Derek woke up with a smile. Today was the day he was to leave his country of America to go to Japan. He signed up for a student exchange program and figured he would learn some medical related skills in Japan. Derek was planning to be a doctor, and wanted to learn the most he could.
"Derek, dear! Hurry up, you'll miss your flight!" Derek's mother called from downstairs.
"Coming!" The teen shouted.
Derek had already packed everything the previous night; he picked it all up and ran down the stairs. He reached the bottom stair to find the front door open, his father standing beside the car with the door open, and his mother weeping.
"Four weeks without you..how will I manage?" She asked him, giving him a hug.
Derek pat her back, "Don't worry about me, Mom. I'll be fine, I hear this Runaiko kid I'm going to be living with knows his way around the city, or so his letters have told me. I'm sure he'll look after me," He said.
"Well have fun in Mochono...well wherever it is your going son..." She said weeping some more under her breath.
Derek smiled and nodded, as the two separated from their hug. Derek ran out the door, bags in hand, waving to his mom, and entering the car. His journey was now beginning.
Derek arrived at the airport. He looked around; it was huge. He had never taken a plane before and wasn't sure what to do. His dad guided him through all the necessary affairs: Baggage, customs, etc... Finally he arrived in a little room surrounded with chairs.
"Take a seat, son" His father said, "They will call you when you need to get up."
"Wow…Japan.." Derek said, somewhat flabbergasted.
"Yes…quite the long ways away don't you think? Your mother and I will be thinking about you everyday! Luckily for us the student that was supposed to live with us got transferred to a different city due to his plane landing in the wrong area!" Derek's dad let out a laugh. Derek chuckled a bit, then sighed as he looked out the large windows to see a plan coming nearby.
"Flight 97, Boston to Mochonoki now boarding," A voice said over the intercom.
"Well, this is it. Have a nice flight, good luck," Derek's father said.
Derek nodded, the two hugged. Derek then walked along, showed his boarding pass to the flight attendant, walked through the designated tunnel, and emerged in the plane. He took his seat, got buckled in, and watched the road below him move as the clouds slowly shrouded it. Derek was now in the air, and his adventure was soon about to begin.