Arrival

 To anyone reading this blog, I am forewarning you, I am not a writer! but I did think this would be a neat way to compile my thoughts and whoever wants to check up on me would be able to....
This trip has been an experience I have been looking forward to for a long time, but when the time actually came to leaving I became a mix of emotions. I felt sad, nervous, excited, unprepared, yet ready all at the same time.
My parents drove me down to Chicago on Friday afternoon. We left pretty early and had time to stop at a seafood place near the airport.  I don't think I said a word the whole time we were there. I just had no idea what to say. All I could think about was leaving, yet I couldn't come up with the words to describe my thoughts. We got caught in a little bit of traffic on the rest of the way to the airport but it wasn't anything terrible.
Once I got dropped off everything off things went pretty smoothly.
Note to fellow travellers: if you are flying United, no need to use the international terminal. You will just end up taking a train around the airport back to domestic flights.
My bag ended up weighing 70+ pounds but they didn't mention anything about an additional charge, but I am sure I will know when my parents get the credit card statement.  Security was a breeze. Although apparently I look like I may be a potential terrorist because I had to step aside to do one of those full body scans.
I had about 2 and half hours to kill before my flight started to board. I did a little walking around but my carry on was pretty large and cumbersome.  Needless to say I was one of the first people waiting in C15 and had plenty of time to people watch/read/etc. I think there were two other girls on my flight that were also studying abroad. One of them had her parents with her (I have to admit I was a bit jealous, have a security blanket would have been nice!).  So I was just sitting there minding my own business when ~30 year old, bald, snaggle-tooth Greg sits right next to me! (For those of you that don't know, I have a personal bubble, especially with strangers, that I do not like interrupted.) Greg seemed nice enough, I heard all about his journey from a "holiday" in San Francisco (none of which I asked to know). Then he started trying to joke with me, and nudge me jokingly. (which, okay I can handle) then out of the blue starts asking me personal questions like if I am in a relationship. I stupidly said I was single. ugghhh and I thought I would be home free because I don't have a cell phone number to give him, even if I wanted to (which I didn't!) but he asked for my email!! I didn't know how to say no. Of course he didn't have pen and paper so he had to go up to the desk to ask. Luckily that gave me time to think of a fake email!
Sorry csjohnsen@wisc.edu, Greg will be emailing you to ask you to the cinema.
Thankfully, Greg was 7 rows behind me on the plane! Not that that stopped him from extending his arm as high as he could to wave to me when I was boarding.
After that lovely meeting, the rest of the plane ride went fine. I got soggy pasta for dinner and applesauce for breakfast before we landed.
After getting off the plane I had to go through Customs. By the way, I am so glad that I spent hours worrying about this stupid student visitor visa, because no one even cared to look at the thing. I had to fill out a half sheet of paper that asked for the address of my school and that was about the extent of customs.
Next I went to baggage claim and waiting patiently for my 70+ pound bag to arrive. Once it finally came I felt a huge relief because losing my luggage would be my luck.  After I got my bag, I kind of felt like a lost puppy.  I had really no idea where to go. So I wondered a while until I found the Heathrow Express.  It is a direct train from the airport to Central London. I stopped at kiosk and inserted my 18 pounds, then was on my way. Once off the train I found my self a taxi to the housing office to pick up keys for my flat. That taxi cost me 16 pounds which isn't too bad. The people at the office were my first real conversation with an English accent. They talked so fast I had to listen really carefully to fully understand what they were asking me! Once I got my keys then I took another taxi to my flat. It is surprisingly large with a living room sleeping area kitchen and two full baths.
So far it's just me and Sally, a girl who is originally from China but also attends UW. There is a third bed, so I am not sure if we will be getting another roommate?
I am all unpacked and just relaxing the rest of the night. Sally and I are going to dinner together tonight as well. Pictures of the room are coming soon!!
Love C