I set off on my month long adventure yesterday morning. Early yesterday morning. I was up at 5:30 AM so I could get ready and get to the airport. Everything went smoothly in Portland. I got my baggage checked with no real issues outside of the computer not wanting to scan my boarding pass. Mom, my sister Meghan, and I all hung out for a bit in the lounge right outside of the security checkpoint. Finally they had to leave and I made my way to security, winding through the serpentine line with the rest of the travelers. No problems there, aside from a snide comment from the security lady about how the laptop wasn't supposed to go in with everything else. Sorry, I've never done this on my own before and there is nothing that says the laptop needs its own bin. I waited and then boarded the plane without a hitch.
There was this nice French woman and her six-year-old daughter sitting next to me. Since the daughter already had the window seat and I didn't have a dying need to see Philadelphia, I just gave her that seat. We had a nice time chatting and getting through the flight. There were no mishaps, not even any angry screaming children, and we got to Philadelphia right on time.
Looking back, I realize there were ominous signs the trip was not to go smoothly. First of all, I had a five hour layover, which is a terribly long time to wait. Then I couldn't find my flight on any of the departure boards. So I had to go ask a guy at the information desk which gate I had to be at. And don't you know, it was practically on the other side of the airport from where I started? So when I finally got there I tried to call Mom and found I had no cell service. (That's omen number 2 for those who missed it or who are keeping track or who just like random parentheses interjections.) I broke out the laptop, thankfully found wifi, and IMed her over Facebook so she wouldn't freak out.
Fast forward a few hours and I'm getting on the plane. I give the guy my boarding pass, zoom through, find my seat and get situated. In fact every single person boards the plane. The plane is completely full and the pliot comes over the PA saying not to panic but the technical team just has to take care of a few things; we'll take off soon. Fifteen minutes later he comes back on saying that the plane can't take off due to mechanical failure. We all have to get off the plane and move to another gate where there's a new plane ready to go. We'll leave by 12 he says.
He lies. More omens appear that all will not go smoothly. First, every single person on that plane has to check-in again and get their new seat number since the plane is different (Different as in more cramped though they swore it was a bigger, much better plane. But forget you know this until later). They say we'll be airborne by 12:30. At 12:15 there is still no plane on the tarmac and the airline lady says the plane just has to be brought over from the hangar and cleaned. We'll leave soon.
Three times they say this. By now people have broken off into zones, Survivor-style. My group, the ones nearest to the gate that actually has a door to the plane, as laughing, talking, telling stories, pretty much having a good time. Could it be we were too delirious from lack of sleep. Absolutely. But laughing about everything made the wait for the flight much more enjoyable.
It was 3 AM before that flight finally left Philadelphia. As some kind of twisted joke the pilot said "We are first in line on the runway" when we were getting ready to take off. We bloody well better be first in line. Of course, after all of this I was wound tight and my stomach started to hurt. And with the pain came the panic. I was twenty thousand feet in the air. I couldn't have an episode now; I'd be trapped. So I took an Ativan and a half (doctor prescribed, not gained through illegal channels), turned on my iPod, and fell asleep.
We landed in London (Heathrow Airport) about an hour after I woke up. Of course now I was hot and nauseous and had to go through immigration. I made it. Showed the paperwork, got the passport stamped and was now off to find my luggage, which thankfully was right there waiting for me. Yes, one thing actually went right.
But then I went upstairs and realized I had no way of getting to the university. There was no one from EuroLearn around, there was no one. I called the only emergency number I had and worked with her to get everything right. But as soon as the phone calls were over, I broke down and wept. Just had a little pity party.
Everything ended well though. I'm at Kingston. I'm safe and mostly in good shape. Tomorrow comes Orientation and grocery shopping. Until next time, let this be a lesson: Philadelphia Airport will steal your hope and crush your dreams. Ciao
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