January 6, 2010
MSP Airport, Food court, table beside the Burger King
Well, I planned to write here last night, finding time to log some pre-departure thoughts between last-minute packing, mending clothes (thanks Mom), finding all of my important documents, and saying goodbye to everyone (I almost cried when everyone left the house around 10:30), but surprisingly, I just didn’t get around to it. Huh. I think one of my new year’s resolutions was to stop procrastinating… great start.
Oh well, I’m here now. Sitting at the airport, drinking a coffee, listening to the Glee soundtrack, and waiting for my flight to Chicago. I have three hours before my flight leaves… it isn’t even on the arrival/departure board yet. I’m that early. Thanks guy who tried to attack the Detroit airport last week and whoever was responsible for the huge lockdown yesterday at the Minneapolis Airport. My mom freaked out and we left the house at 8AM for my 1PM flight. Every five minutes a calming female voice comes over the speakers telling us that the security threat level is orange. No worries. But don’t you dare bring more than 3 oz. of liquid in your carry-on or it’s the body scanner and interview room for you…
Aaahh. Too much coffee this morning. I’m actually really looking forward to getting in the air. Usually I’m in a panic, sweating and worrying. But not today. Maybe it is because I don’t have my mother beside me asking if I’m all right every five minutes. She did wait in the airport until I got all the way through the security line. And then I cried when she left. Don’t tell or I don’t think she will let me travel without her anymore. Seriously.
As for how I’m feeling about all this, I don’t really know. I can’t really believe that it is finally here. I applied for the program almost a year ago today. I’ve been planning for so long, it still just seems like something I’m going to do someday. But it is actually here. In 14 hours I will be in London. Holy crap.
At the orientation they asked us to make a list of goals. And at the time I wrote something cliché like travel around Europe. Or don’t run out of money. Make friends. Have fun. Sadly, if you asked me that same question again today, I don’t think I could come up with anything better. I just don’t know what to expect. I have no idea. I do know that I’m never going to get an opportunity as awesome as this again, and I’m going to do as much as I can and enjoy every minute.
Well, I’m going to find my flight terminal now. Apparently there was a huge snowstorm last night in London and some flights are delayed or canceled. (For the British, a huge snowstorm amounts to about two inches of snow and temperature just below freezing.) Hopefully it won’t affect me, but you never know.
Best,
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