Pre Trip and Flight
Today we drove to JFK for me to board my flight to Rome. Mom, Dad, and I left, after I said good bye to Shannon and Jack. I will miss both of my siblings. I expect that both will have grown so much by the time I see them again. Jack is on his way to becoming a teenager, and passing through puberty. Shannon is drifting from the age of being a toddler to that of a “big girl”. I can’t wait to see them both again in June. I will miss them both so much.
We arrived at JFK, and checked my bags, and waited for an hour to meet the people from SYA. I hung out with a few of my fellow “adventurers”as we waited. Then, after a sad but tearless goodbye with Mum and Dad, I went through the security check to wait for my flight. I had three hours to wait, and I met up with some fellow SYA’ers. We entertained ourselves by playing cards and trying to memorize each others names. I’ve met too many people to list, or even think about.
After that, the call came to board our plane. Walking down the concourse, I felt as if I was in a haze. There were people talking around me, even to me, but it was all like a puddle in the back of my head. I kept walking, as if in a dream. I know thats a cliche thing to say, but now I understand where it comes from. As I got to the airplane, I could hear the crew speaking in Spanish. It was at that moment that it really hit me - I’m going to a foreign environment for nine whole months. I was not at the airport for a vacation. I could feel the weight of the text books in my bag. The people around me were not strangers or fellow vacationers - they were my colleagues and fellow students. And they were going with me to this foreign, strange, and new environment.
I am now sitting on the airplane after take off. Sophie, from Alberta Canada, is to my left. She is watching a movie. To my right is Nahin, who is turned around talking to someone behind us. James is right behind me.
Now, it is time to sit back and relax - and wait for the journey to begin.