Study Abroad (Prologue)

There I was standing in front of my School's cashier's office with the check in hand.

"You're going to need to make a payment of $2,365 by January 5th, or your past semester's state of enrolment will be re-evaluated with this institution. "

I kept replaying that e-mail in my head. No way was I going to be able to make that much money during Winter Vacation. That and I had already taken out a huge loan for the Fall Semester. Only two more semesters of College until I would finally have my Engineering degree and finally start raking in the big bucks that I had so desperately needed. It wasn't enough that I was poor, but I spent whatever I had as soon as it touched my hands. I wouldn't be surprised if my pants were found with actual holes burnt into them.

 

I scoured the internet looking for last minute scholarships that I could apply for. But there never seemed to be the one scholarship out there for the underachieving white male from suburbia. To think, I was so close and yet so far. I just needed a little more money to finish school. But who am I kidding, it's not like the real world would want an adult like me.

"You're just another cog in the machine that can be easily replaced" my boss would continue to remind me. Definitely a big positive motivator. But then again, it really is my fault it got this way. A homework assignment here a failed test there and all of a sudden I was looking at my annual scholarship of $10,000 out of my reach.

 

I just decided to hit the sack, before checking out the old spam folder for any contest winners.

 

"Real Gold Watches!!!! "

" Want a real woman? "

" Earn 10k a week working at home!!!! "

"Study Abroad Students Needed, Scholarships Avaliable"

 

Huh? I decided to click on that link. Form, name, contact info, describe yourself in 1000 words or less. Well, what's the worst that could happen? I decided to be horrendously honest. I admitted my lack of motivation desire to simply relax and enjoy life as it came. It probably was spam anyway.

 

Except it wasn't, soon enough the owner of the Study Abroad asked for my school records and a letter of recommendation from one of my teachers. Shit, I decided to give them the letter from the only teacher that called me by name and seemed positive by it. Ugh, he's probably going to say something along the lines of, "Smart Kid, unmotivated". Damnit I was actually considering this.

 

Needless to say I was accepted and my debts were able to be paid off. I just would have to continue school next January and they would cover all the rest of my schooling and transportation requirements.

 

So I signed on the dotted line, and turned that check into the cashier. The next day I was picked up from my house in one of those stretch limousines, seemed a little bit excessive but apparently five other students were going to be picked up along the way. Being the first to be picked up felt honorable, I just wondered how long this trip would take.

 

My worries were for naught, when within an hour the limo stopped at the college about an hour away when my first "travel buddy" entered.

 

"Hey there, I'm... "

 

"Oh my gosh are you going on the Study Abroad too? My name is Michael and I'm studying to become a veterinarian! I really really can't wait to get to wherever we're supposed to go so I can go to the nearest wildlife preserve and learn all about the animals of the area! Just the thought about it makes me Super excited!"

 

"Um, hey. My name is Derrick and I'm trying to become an engineer. "

 

" WooooooooW!  That sounds soo cool! Does that mean you're really good wit numbers? You must work really hard! Why are you going on this trip? I can't wait to meet everyone else that's coming along! "

 

Yeah me neither.

 

The next two hours were painful until we finally pulled into an airport where we picked up the next two people,  the first was this douche of a guy, who just screamed,"Daddy cut me off and I'm really desperate for money" It smelled like a damn Abercrombie and Fitch in there, I think he called himself, Thomas. The other guy needed help getting in, turns out he lost a leg. Damn. He told me all about how he was a track runner and got in an accident last year. Still didn't stop him from competing in the special Olympics, he told me that he was able to get a gold in the wheelchair races. But that he needed money for a prosthetic leg. Damn, he worked hard for his buck and here I am sitting life away.

 

I wasn't much awake for the rest of the trip, but we ended up picking up this neckbeard who went by Jack and what seemed to be his friend who never ended up telling me his name. This was before it got real wierd.

 

All of a sudden the driver pulled away into a dirt road and just took off. All of a sudden we were taking off the road and I thought we were going to just crash right there and then. In a state of panic I whited out.

 

"Okay as everyone else has their assignments, I'm leaving the last one to wake up to be left with my personal student, Twilight Sparkle, we leave for Pony villa in an hour "

 

"What"