Flying On My Own
This is surreal and not just because I'm writing on my mini iPad rather than my Mac. But I'll explain that first. I'm currently sitting in a flight and we've just been told that the last luggage has been loaded and we're ready to take-off. Now, the cabin crew is instructed to find their seats and the aeroplane is rolling onwards to the take-off strip. I'm writing in the iPad because I know that it has a proper flight mode and I'm not sure how it works on the Mac and I'm not taking any chances. I'm flying with SAS though and that, thankfully, puts my mind at ease.
I've never been on a flight on my own before but it seems fitting that this particular first will probably bring me to a place where I'm bound to experience more. I'm going on exchange for a whole semester and even now as I sit in the plane, I'm not sure it has properly sunk in. I'm not scared, I'm not really nervous, I'm not sad - although I'm certain all those emotion will find me soon. I feel kind of numb and as if this isn't really happening, I don't feel like I'm leaving my home for three month straight, moving to a foreign country and living at a place where I've never been with people I've never met. I won't know anybody and although this is something I've experienced before when starting new educations, I won't have my family to come home to or old friends to hang out with.
When I arrive in Heathrow, I'll meet up with tutors from my host university and then I'll take a bus straight to my accommodation. Funnily, the bus drive will probably last longer than my flight. I've been in Copenhagen airport before and it felt like familiar. Sure, I did end up getting semi-lost in the shops when I made a detour to buy an extra adaptor. Nevertheless, I feel pretty confident in airports and with flying because I've flown about as many times as years I'm old and my mum is an absolute pro and I've been watching her "work" travel like a boss so many times.
I'm not sure how I felt about saying goodbye to my family, friends and pets. Because this doesn't quite feel real, I'm having a hard time with my emotions. Oh, now we're taking off! The wheels are off the ground! And my ears are popping...
I just took a moment to feel the movement of the plane and get another stick of Mellers. I bought one of those giant tubes with multiple of the regular package inside because I just couldn't help myself. It's such an airport thing to me as well as my three packs of string gym that I always get.
However, back to the goodbyes. This morning and yesterday I've received sweet messages from my best friends. It was so heart warming just the fact that they remembered and that they cared. Adding all of their sweet words, I felt very, very thankful for them.
Saying goodbye to my pets was different because they didn't know that I was saying goodbye to them for such a long time, although both of them knew something was up when I acted so strange. I saw my horse early that morning and she kept nudging me with her nose when I stayed around in her box after having finished brushing her. I'm sure she was just annoyed that I kept kissing her ears and nose and hugging her. We took our dog with us to the airport and I said goodbye to her in the parking lot. She was more interested in getting out of the car but she did keep looking at me with confusion and willingly gave me sloppy dog kisses.
Last but most importantly; the family. My parents and my little brother drove me to the airport and saw me off. The night before I had talked to my Grandma on the phone and she wished me safe travels and good luck. She also sent me a nice scarf for my teddy dog with the Danish and British flag. It was such a considerate gift and I'm so thankful for my old Grandma. After having dropped off my baggage, I hugged the three of them goodbye and went up the escalator stairs. I have to admit that I held on quite tightly and for longer than I normally would have but I needed to; I wasn't seeing them in a while. We waved to each other all the until I turned the corner and we couldn't see each other anymore.
It was weird but when I said goodbye to my horse, dog, parents and brother, I felt a bit teary-eyed right after I said goodbye. Nothing while it was happening it right after I could feel the familiar burn in the rims of my eyes. It was as if my mind logically knew it made no sense to be sad, but my heart felt the tug anyway.
When I get out on the other end, I'll be completely on my own. In bloody England. An ocean and a time zone separating me from the people and animals I love. I'll also need to figure out a way to travel from terminal 2 to terminal 3 where the tutors await.
I guess this is goodbye DK and hello UK
I've never been on a flight on my own before but it seems fitting that this particular first will probably bring me to a place where I'm bound to experience more. I'm going on exchange for a whole semester and even now as I sit in the plane, I'm not sure it has properly sunk in. I'm not scared, I'm not really nervous, I'm not sad - although I'm certain all those emotion will find me soon. I feel kind of numb and as if this isn't really happening, I don't feel like I'm leaving my home for three month straight, moving to a foreign country and living at a place where I've never been with people I've never met. I won't know anybody and although this is something I've experienced before when starting new educations, I won't have my family to come home to or old friends to hang out with.
When I arrive in Heathrow, I'll meet up with tutors from my host university and then I'll take a bus straight to my accommodation. Funnily, the bus drive will probably last longer than my flight. I've been in Copenhagen airport before and it felt like familiar. Sure, I did end up getting semi-lost in the shops when I made a detour to buy an extra adaptor. Nevertheless, I feel pretty confident in airports and with flying because I've flown about as many times as years I'm old and my mum is an absolute pro and I've been watching her "work" travel like a boss so many times.
I'm not sure how I felt about saying goodbye to my family, friends and pets. Because this doesn't quite feel real, I'm having a hard time with my emotions. Oh, now we're taking off! The wheels are off the ground! And my ears are popping...
I just took a moment to feel the movement of the plane and get another stick of Mellers. I bought one of those giant tubes with multiple of the regular package inside because I just couldn't help myself. It's such an airport thing to me as well as my three packs of string gym that I always get.
However, back to the goodbyes. This morning and yesterday I've received sweet messages from my best friends. It was so heart warming just the fact that they remembered and that they cared. Adding all of their sweet words, I felt very, very thankful for them.
Saying goodbye to my pets was different because they didn't know that I was saying goodbye to them for such a long time, although both of them knew something was up when I acted so strange. I saw my horse early that morning and she kept nudging me with her nose when I stayed around in her box after having finished brushing her. I'm sure she was just annoyed that I kept kissing her ears and nose and hugging her. We took our dog with us to the airport and I said goodbye to her in the parking lot. She was more interested in getting out of the car but she did keep looking at me with confusion and willingly gave me sloppy dog kisses.
Last but most importantly; the family. My parents and my little brother drove me to the airport and saw me off. The night before I had talked to my Grandma on the phone and she wished me safe travels and good luck. She also sent me a nice scarf for my teddy dog with the Danish and British flag. It was such a considerate gift and I'm so thankful for my old Grandma. After having dropped off my baggage, I hugged the three of them goodbye and went up the escalator stairs. I have to admit that I held on quite tightly and for longer than I normally would have but I needed to; I wasn't seeing them in a while. We waved to each other all the until I turned the corner and we couldn't see each other anymore.
It was weird but when I said goodbye to my horse, dog, parents and brother, I felt a bit teary-eyed right after I said goodbye. Nothing while it was happening it right after I could feel the familiar burn in the rims of my eyes. It was as if my mind logically knew it made no sense to be sad, but my heart felt the tug anyway.
When I get out on the other end, I'll be completely on my own. In bloody England. An ocean and a time zone separating me from the people and animals I love. I'll also need to figure out a way to travel from terminal 2 to terminal 3 where the tutors await.
I guess this is goodbye DK and hello UK
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