Takeoffs and Landings

It's hard to believe that so much can happen within the span of two days until you experience it and are sleep-deprived enough to delay processing events until later. Wow. From the time I left Tampa to sitting here right now typing this blog, I have gone through every emotion possible, and I don't even think I'm done yet. But let me start at the beginning because otherwise I will not make any sense at all, to you or myself.

Leaving Tampa International was one of the funniest and saddest things I have ever done. Thanks to a few friends who push the help button instead of the down button in the elevator (ahem-Heather) and others who insist on taking pictures of everything, I felt like a high schooler again. But it was good. A little embarassing when the lady who was checking me in told me to turn around because my friends were taking a picture, but good. And I did see you all waving as I rode the tram to the terminal.

On a side note, I am incredibally sorry to all those whom I did not get to bid farewell to before I left. I know, I am lame, but I didn't mean to leave without saying goodbye. I love you all!

The flight from Tampa to Newark was pretty routine. Oh! I got window seats on every flight which was a bonus. Good booking, Mom. Got to Newark and found one of those money exchange things, so I'm set on that. I treated myself to a Jamba Juice before the next flight, which was Newark to Heathrow, London.

This was the flight I was nervous about because it was the long one and I was afraid I would get stuck between two big fat guys or something, but it was actually my best flight. Hardly anyone was on the plane, so we all got our own row to spread out and sleep on. Of course, I was too wired to sleep, so I watched a movie, The Rocker. Laura Schultz, if you are reading this blog, you need to go watch that movie. You would enjoy it. The dude that plays Dwight, Teddy Geiger, AND their first gig they booked was for none other than Fort Wayne, Indiana. Yes. I know.

I'm kind of writing this to stay awake, because I took a nice warm shower and have nothing else to do tonight other than figure out a way to set an alarm in the morning so I will wake up in time for my orientation, and I can't sleep for at least four more hours. Boo time changes. I think I'm going to end up using my phone to wake me up, so no one call me or text me or I will make you pay the bill.

Where was I? Oh, yes. I definately couldn't sleep at all on the plane, and I tried for three hours. But it ended up only being about a six hour flight, so not bad at all. Then it was time for Heathrow, which if you don't know is a large and confusing airport.

Forgot to mention, flying over New Jersey and London at night is gorgeous. I highly recommend it to all of you. Unfortunately, I didn't have my CAMERA so I can't share the loveliness. It's only saved in my brain.

I'm not going to go into details about Heathrow but I did meet up with a couple other ISEP students there who were also attending University of Ulster. One was going to my campus and the other girl was going to a different campus, but we were all on the same flight, so we helped each other navigate the airport and customs. P.S. The girl who was going to Coleraine with me had really long hair, and you could tell. That last statement will only make sense to a couple of you.

So we got on the plane to Belfast and that flight was pretty short. It's really cloudy over here, so we flew above the clouds for most of it, but once we got below them and you could see the country, it was gorgeous. That was one of the points where I got really excited versus before I got on the plane to Newark when I just felt sick. Feelings, I tell you.

I went to claim my luggage, and as it was coming down the conveyer belt I was telling my newfound friends about how my luggage is always broken somehow after flights. And lo and behold, there was a wheel missing from my suitcase. And not just like the wheel itself fell off. No, the entire wheel mechanism was broken off and the bottom of the suitcase was open. Of course. That suitcase is toast, by the way, Mother. We'll talk about that later.

So I had to drag this stupid broken suitcase with one wheel around all day, because what else was I suppossed to do with it? That is what led my emotions to wanting to go home the most, I think. That stupid suitcase. And the fact that I somehow forgot my CAMERA after I told Laura that I thought I forgot to pack it and then convinced myself that I had indeed packed it. Sorry, I'm a little bitter. (Or, if you've seen The Rocker, I'm Not Bitter).

This is probably going to be my longest blog ever, just so y'all know. I'm just finding things to do to keep myself awake, and I do want to tell you all about my amazing wonderful horrible and slightly confusing trip. So on with the story.

Anyway, we took a bus to the train station and then took the train to the school (no taxi's, Beca), and everyone was helpful because they knew we were clueless American's. Oh, and by we I mean myself, long-haired girl from Heathrow, and two others we met on the bus. I don't actually remember any of their names because I am a horrible person. But I will see them tomorrow and maybe then I will remember.

The train ride was very pretty, but also very hypnotic and I kept catching myself falling asleep. Once we got off the train, we were walking over to the Accommodation Office where we were supposed to get keys to our rooms, and poor pathetic I was dragging my suitcase along the sidewalk (which is hard work, man, my arms are going to be sore tomorrow). So an Irish girl we met on the train who was taking us to the office flagged down a random car and asked them if they could drive me and my bag over since it is such a long walk. And they were nice people and took me. It was this lady and her son who was around my age. Don't worry Mom, I hardly spoke to him. I was following instructions.

Yeah, so they definately drive on the opposite side, of the road and the car. Which is very strange. So I got to ride in my first wrong side car. Fun times. But they got me over to the office and those people had a trolley to put my bag on and help. And my dorms are very close to the office anyway.

So I got to my dorm. Here's how it is set up. There are two stories, and there are suites. So in my dorm there are three of four suites I think, and each one has three or four bedrooms on each floor, plus a toilet (not bathroom, toilet) and shower room. So it's a little hall with three rooms, then stairs, then three more rooms with stairs. But I have my own bedroom. Desk with chair, an armchair type of deal, a bed, a closet, and a sink. And the bedding kit they gave me does not compare with my bed last semester. One thing I will miss dearly. The pillow is hardly a pillow, and the quilt isn't very warm. So I might need to get myself another blanket, because it's cold here.

Ok, so I unpacked, found the little store on campus to buy some food and toilet paper because I guess we have to get our own, and then I showered and then sat down to write this. So you are all caught up with the adventures of me.

My overall impression of the semester is that it will be somewhat like camp for me. I just has a camp feel to it so far. And I think once I find a routine it will be good. It's just a big change from normal, so at the moment it feels a bit daunting. But all the people I've met are very nice, though there's only one other girl in my dorm right now. They all come back this weekend. So hopefully they'll all be as nice as her. It is definately a different feel than Eckerd. I'm sure orientation will help me out a lot, since at this point I don't know where anything is or how to get places.

If you made it this far, kudoes to you! You are either really bored or have a strange sense of what intrests you. Like I said, this will probably be the longest blog I ever write, so I hope you have enjoyed it. Feel free to write stuff on here, because I miss you all and would love to hear from you!