Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones.

But words can never hurt me?  Just the opposite, actually.  My sister pointed out to me yesterday that I really take offense to certain things people tell me.  Last night my dad half-jokingly called me high maintenance in front of my uncle, to which I responded, "I AM NOT high maintenance!"  Later on at home I told me dad to take it back.  "You know I'm not high maintenance!"  Then he said, "Well, you're really independent, but you're high maintenance for some things."

Okay, white flag of surrender.  It's true.  There's things that I'm totally clueless about and that I need help in.  I hate that position of helplessness...a position that I know will come to humble me when I'm overseas.  I'm competent in my life here...what will happen when everything that I claim my competence in is stripped?  Language, culture, environment, people?