Ok, so bye bye USA! Hello, Australia! I have officially landed and started moving into my room in Adelaide (started being the key word... you'll get more information on that later).
Feb. 18, 2011 8:19 PM (Eastern Time)
Well, I have been on the plane to LA for about an hour and a half now. To start off with, I was extremely nervous. However, I kept telling myself that it is safer than riding in a car. That really didn't help much. It's my whole issue with control. Obviously, I don't know how to fly a plane so I have no control. Maybe that is one of the lessons God will be teaching me on this adventure.
So, to start off with, my parents and I left around noon for Charlotte. We stopped for a yummy lunch at Bigs and then went on our way. Let me just tell you how little my parents and I know about flying. We were completely lost (A little side note with what is going on right now: TURBULENCE!) Anyway, we went and checked my bags in. My scale at home is not completely accurate, because it weighed 58 lbs NOT 48 lbs. But, thankfully the nice woman in baggage was tired and wanted to go home so she checked my 2nd bag in free of charge! After checking my bags in, I noticed just how long the security line was becoming and felt like we should probably start the process. My mom, however, did not feel the same way. She was trying to make me miss my flight!
Once I finally talked my mom into getting in line, I waited for about 30 minutes. Once I got to the gate I just knew they would let me go through the scanners. Wrong! Apparently they don't want to take chances that someone will pass out on them. Come on now! I think they need a little excitement sometimes! :) Anyway, I had to wait for a female security guard to pat me down. No, I do not feel violated, but I did feel really weird! Anyway, now that I am on the plane, I have gotten really thirsty! So, I have had about a bottle and a half of water. When you're on a plane, that is not necessarily a good idea! But, oh well. You live and learn. Going to read and do a few crossword puzzles. Plus go to the restroom YET again.
3:23 AM (Eastern Time)
So, I am now on the plane to Sydney after almost having a breakdown, because my flight was 50 minutes late arriving in LA and I needed to get through the international customs and board in 5 minutes! Plus, no one seemed to want to give me directions or help me at all. People in LA do not know "southern hospitality"! Anyway, thanks to the very nice international flight attendants, I was able to board the plane for Sydney even though I was extremely late to the gate. I arrived at check-in and was escorted through security (another pat down people!) and was on my flight!
I just had dinner (yes... at 3 AM) and am doing my best to stay awake until it is time for Australia to go to bed. However, I am exhausted! I am on my 2nd episode of NCIS and plan on trying to get some sleep as soon as they take away my meal and turn the lights off (come on people, don't you know it is almost 4 AM in Darlington?!)! Alright, hopefully bedtime soon!
12:51 PM 2/19/2011 (Eastern Time)
Want to know what feels the weirdest right now? That it is breakfast on the flight, but lunchtime in Darlington. The flight attendants have not come back for orders yet and I am starving! Not only will I need to adjust to the different times in order to sleep but I also need to get used to the eating times as well! I have to train my stomach! So, there are only 3 hours and 30 minutes left on my flight to Sydney. I am running on very little sleep. Window seat, aisle seat, middle seat: they're all uncomfortable for 15 hours!
6:56 PM 2/19/2011 (Eastern Time)/ 10:57 AM 2/20/2011 (in Sydney)
So, I am now on my last flight of the longest day ever! I have no luggage, because my bags did not make it to LA in time to be moved (hence why I can't stand to be late!) So, I am hopefully going to get my bags at some point today. The biggest problem is that I don't have contact info for when I'm in Australia yet. The only thing I have right now is an email address. Ok, so my clothes are not here, and my biggest worry is that I have absolutely no summer clothes with me. I did pack a change of clothes in my carry-on, but I was not thinking when I packed jeans! And it is HOT! I also wanted to go for a run so that I don't pass out in the middle of the day b/c it is really the middle of the night in Darlington. But, guess what NO shoes or shorts. But, like I said, hopefully my bags will be here later today.
Moving on to a different topic: CUSTOMS. I waited in line for 45 minutes so they could check and make sure my meals bars and Andes mints are not a danger to anyone. They may be dangerous to my weight, but other than that I think they are pretty safe. Also, they had to check my clipboard. What in the world am I going to do with a clipboard?! Beat someone on the head?! However, I am finally on my flight to Adelaide after losing a whole day. The good thing is that I ran into Daniel (who goes to PC and will be at Flinders with me for the semester) and we are on the same flight! Finally, a familiar face! So, I am now on a much smaller airplane that tends to shake a little more than the others and it is kind of making me nervous. Plus, I need to get money (I have no Australian currency right now). I did use my debit card for something to eat b/c my stomach still thinks I'm in the US. I paid about $13 for a water and a chicken wrap! That's a rip off. No more airport food for me!
Sunday, 2/20/2011 3:38 AM (Darlington time) / 7:09 PM Adelaide time
Yep! I am finally here! and aside from being completely exhausted and having no clothes to wear, everything is going great! The campus is gorgeous (judging by what I've seen) and the weather is great. However, the weather is great if you have shorts and flip flops. I have neither. So, we had this big barbeque with our O-groups (orientation groups) tonight and guess where it was?! Outside b/c it is gorgeous but also hot as fire! However, I really am going to stop complaining about not having luggage. It really could be worse. I'm just exhausted so it seems huge right now! So, now I'm waiting to go to the Bush Dance (one more chance to complain: I don't have the clothes that I packed to wear to the Bush Dance!... ugh... I promise that's all the complaining I will do!) So, anyway, now I am trying to get everything caught up and then will head to the Bush Dance. I think I might make it for an hour or a little more, but I'm starting to feel like I'm walking on air I'm so tired.
Ok, when I got to Flinders, there was an orientation staff there to greet me (kind of like PC!), and they seemed really confused when I got out with only my bookbag. HAHA! Anyway, I did all I could before the barbeque so that when I do get my bags I won't be unpacking everything all at once. My bed is made and I have everything set up. I had to pay $60 for internet! What in the world! That is crazy! Anyway, internet fee is paid and orientation pack is bought (which means I need to go get more money out of the bank). Man, Australia is expensive! So, I have everything ready for when I completely crash in bed tonight. Hmm... It might help if I look and see what time I need to be somewhere tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll unpack a few things out of my suitcase and finish tomorrow! Anyway, gone to the Bush Dance! I will update later.
The view from my window! Overlooking campus!
The view from my window of the gorgeous sunrise on the flight to Sydney.
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