Hello again!


So, let me tell you a tale. It's been so full of adventure that I barely have time to tell you about it! Anyways, I suppose we should start at the beginning.


I awoke several times that starting night, full of energy and anticipation. I rose from my bed excited, and ran a few checks on my luggage. Tying my shoes, and buttoning up my shirt, I embarked upon my quest: to breakfast.

After breakfast with my wonderful girlfriend, we headed out and bought a camera, and said goodbye to my parents and siblings. Finally I was at the airport, standing in line for my ticket. With surprisingly little trouble, I found myself in possession of a plane ticket to Europe. All that was left was to say goodbye to Stephanie, and go through security.

Security.

For some unexplainable reason, I found myself more terrified of security than I was of living in a foreign country. Entering the gates and heading towards the TSA labyrinth I was jittery with nerves, but steeled myself and moved in. Everyone removed their shoes, and shuffled along the line towards the full body scanner. I broke some of the nerves by making a TSA agent laugh, sliding along their actually rather nicely waxed floors. I stepped into the scanner, and they took me aside. There. I had done it. I was a terrorist. Actually, they just wanted to run a scanner over my hands, and look through my wallet. Finally, a large burly man took me to one side, and avoiding my eyes, said gruffly,

"I'm now going to pat down your buttocks."

I raised my arms for his inspection, per his orders and the diagrams on the walls, and felt his large gloved hand running up my leg. Three pats and a solid cup and squeeze later, he was satisfied. I could move on. Back to getting on the plane. I sat around, accompanied by my travel companion, one of my classmates, for around half an hour, then they announced that we were to begin boarding the plane. All nervousness was now replaced with unbridled excitement, as I stepped into the metal tube that was carrying me across the sea.

The flight was exhilarating. Just flying out of Raleigh, I was greeted by a sunset through mists and clouds. I was placed in a window seat, and since the plane had been over booked, I was placed in a crew seat, directly behind the business class. My seat could stretch out, leaning back and raising a footrest, until I was almost horizontal. Incredible. We flew for quite some time before I grew tired of staring out of the window.

After sleeping through the cold dark night above the atlantic, we touched down in Heathrow Airport. Sadly, against what I had hoped for, we were unable to leave the airport, without having to deal with significant issues. So we wandered around the enormous airport, which was mostly filled with perfume and alcohol.

A short nap later, and I was off again, this time for my final destination. The flight was quick, and the service was great aboard the british craft, also the accents were amazing. The plane touched down before I knew it, and there was a smooth and painless transition from aircraft to taxi to pension. Finally there, I was whisked off by my fellow students for dinner, and then returned for a nice, long, jet lag induced slumber. Even the view from my room is amazing.

More to come.