Different World

Part 6 : Adventure Hobby

Glory has a natural sense of adventure. The moment she sees a new place, her big eyes light up with curiosity, taking in everything around her. Whenever she enters a new building, she can't resist exploring every corner. She'll wander from right to left, top to bottom, entering one door and exiting another, as if she's discovering a brand-new game.

Looking back to when Glory was still a little kid, there were a few times she got lost and was found by kind strangers. Once, in kindergarten, she managed to slip away unnoticed by both the security guard and her teacher. That day, Glory wasn't even wearing her school uniform because it had gotten wet, and she had insisted on changing. At just three and a half years old, she wandered around the housing complex all by herself. An old man, the complex's security guard, happened to spot her while riding his bicycle. Poor Glory was soaking wet and had peed in her pants.

The security guard gently asked, "What's your name, little one? Where are you from?" But Glory didn't respond; her eyes just showed confusion. He tried again, "Where's your school, kid?" while reaching out to comfort her. But Glory remained silent and instinctively pulled away from his touch.

Undeterred, the security guard said, "Come on, let's go together. I'll help you find your school."

Glory didn't resist when the security guard picked her up—she was too tired from wandering around. The guard carried her to the school in the housing complex and asked if anyone recognized her. But the staff there said they didn't know who she was.

Undeterred, the security guard continued to the next school. There were three schools in the housing complex, so he had a few more places to check. As soon as they arrived at the second school, there was an immediate stir among the security guards, teachers, and babysitters waiting there. They had finally found her.

The next day, all the security guards lined up for a briefing, and Glory was introduced to each one of them, along with the other school staff. The principal made sure everyone knew who Glory was and stressed that if she ever tried to slip out of the school gates again, they needed to catch her right away.

This wasn't the only time Glory wandered off. Another time, while her mother was busy cooking in the kitchen and her father stepped away to use the bathroom, they accidentally left the front door unlocked. Since they lived in a housing complex, Glory saw her chance and slipped out unnoticed.

Glory's family lived in a housing complex with a no-fence concept, so the houses were all open. When Glory's mother realized she wasn't in the room, she panicked. Both parents rushed out of the house and began searching the complex, calling for her. Fortunately, Glory hadn't wandered too far. They found her nearby, carefully studying the house numbers.

"Forty-nine, forty-eight, forty-seven" she said.

"Glory, let's go home," said mother

"Forty-six, forty-five..." continued Glory, grabbing her mother's hand, heading towards Glory's house which is number forty-one.

When Glory was about eight years old, she visited a very large church. The church had many rooms, and the main hall could hold more than two thousand people. There were two doors on the left, two on the right, and one large door at the back. At the front was the choir area, with hidden doors behind it that led to hallways usually reserved for choir members. Glory was completely fascinated. She couldn't resist exploring—entering one door and exiting another—until she had the entire layout memorized, as if she had a blueprint in her mind. Sometimes her mother would get turned around and not know where to go, but Glory could always guide her in the right direction.

Glory has a natural talent for recognizing new places and creating a virtual map in her mind, which is why she rarely gets lost. During a family trip to Bangkok, her mother would always tell Glory where they were headed next. Glory quickly became fascinated with the BTS and MRT lines, and she always knew exactly when to get on and off the train, even when they had to change lines. It was like having a walking map in the family.

Glory's love for adventure isn't just limited tobuildings—it extends to nature too. Her parents took her to Mount Dieng inWonosobo, Central Java, and Glory was captivated by the stunning natural views.As she gazed at the vast grasslands, surrounded by mountains and thick clouds,she suddenly said, "Mom, this is very beautiful." Glory's mother'seyes filled with tears. She never imagined that Glory could not only appreciatethe beauty of nature but also express it so clearly. Those words, "This isvery beautiful," were powerful and gave her mother renewed hope forGlory's future development.