Airport musings

September 23, 2008 at 5:54 pm | Posted in One trip at a time, Real-life adventures | 1 Comment

*Note* I scribbled the following notes during various layovers on the way to Spain on 9/16. I’ve been MIA this past week because I’ve been looking for apartments in Madrid, which didn’t leave much time for e-mailing friends and family to let them know I made it in one piece, let alone for blogging. Stay tuned for updates on my recent adventures…

Things you think about during 19 hours of trying to get to Spain (a peek into my neurotic brain):

~Airport in Knoxville (around 7 am): noticed the signs that said the threat of a terrorist attack was “Orange,” which is like the second –highest level. It felt like a “fly at your own risk” warning. I looked around at the other people going through security with me, and none of them looked worried, so I figured I was OK.

~Airport in Knoxville (around 7 am): tried to psych myself up to get excited for my flight, but still only felt nervous, apprehensive and hopeful that I was making the right decision. Watched my parents walk away and thought how much easier it was to say goodbye knowing that I’d be home in three months instead of nine. Still felt a little sad to be leaving my comfort zone.

~Airport in DC (around 9:30 am):  Loathed the airport for not providing free wifi. (I just thought wee-fee, like in Spanish, when I wrote that. I accidentally said it the other day when I was talking to my mom, and then she couldn’t remember which pronunciation was correct.) Ever since I went to one U.S. airport (can’t remember which one) that did provide free internet, I’m spoiled for life. I could be getting ahead on my apartment search and attempting to contact my boyfriend, reassuring myself that he will be at the airport in Madrid tomorrow. But noooooo…I’m forced to write my blog post in Word and save it to be published at a later date. I’m hoping that Philadelphia was the airport I can’t remember, as I’m going there in about an hour for my next and last domestic layover.

~Airport in DC (around 10 am): recognized a US Airways flight attendant and felt like an airport “regular.” Wondered if she might recognize me like servers know their regular customers. Figured I probably hadn’t reached that level yet, but that would be cool.

~Airport in DC (around 10:30 am): planned on waiting until I got to Philadelphia around 1 pm to buy anything to eat, but got bored and cold so purchased a hot coffee and a coffee cake muffin. It wasn’t really worth it. Have a bad, burnt taste in my mouth and feel like I just ate a sugar bowl.

~Airport in DC (around 11 am): started to think about the people I met last year and looked forward to seeing who would become part of my life through this new adventure. Hoped I would have a better experience in the school where I will be working.

~Airport in DC (around 11 am): started to worry about money. Forgot to ask my parents if they would spot me for my apartment deposit. Will have to e-mail when I get there. Just hope I can make it until I get paid on Nov. 1. God, I hate borrowing money from my parents these days. But I’m thankful I have that option. I’m going to have to pick up some private English classes at least in the month of October, and I can quit when I get paid if I don’t like them. Don’t want to get stuck with too many like last year and be miserable.

~Airport in DC (around 11:15 am): I hope I get a room with a lot of light, and a balcony would be nice. I hope I like my roommates. The girl, Daniela, who responded to my e-mail yesterday about an apartment I’d like to go look at seemed nice. I hope that works out.

~Airport in DC (around 11:15 am): I’m going to see Jaime tomorrow. OK, maybe I’m getting excited now. Just a little. Thank God he’ll be there to meet me at the airport and help me with my bags…I hope he got my flight information and shows up on time instead of an hour late like me when I picked him up in Atlanta this summer. He’s a good boyfriend.

~Airport in DC (around 11:20 am): The economic crisis is the only thing they’re talking about on the news. I wonder what things will be like in the States when I return. Wonder who the new president will be. Kind of sad I’ll be missing all the hype this fall. Need to register for absentee voting. Crossing my fingers for Obama.

~Airport in Philly (around 1:30 pm): why are so many airport employees rude and/or incompetent? Drives me crazy. They’re there to do a job, and the people they’re doing that job for just get in the way and get on their nerves.

~Airport in Philly (around 3 pm): walked around everywhere looking for wifi. Found out students get it for free, and everyone gets it for free on the weekends. My student visa (with my picture and the word “student” on it) wasn’t good enough – you had to have a student ID card. ??!! I know, I know, I’m NOT a student…but if I’ve got documentation saying that I am, then what’s the problem?

~Airport in Philly (around 4 pm): walk the length of the airport to get back to my gate and think my back is going to break from the weight of my backpack. There is no cart in sight until I get to my final destination, where there are several unclaimed carts just sitting there. I’m starting to get pissed from being tired and having nothing go my way.

~Airport in Philly (around 4 pm): realize that if I weren’t traveling by myself, I wouldn’t be taking all of these things so seriously, and I need to chill out. I wish I had a traveling companion….someone to stay with my backpack when I need to go to the bathroom.