The Plane Trip

Traveling Time: September 7-9, 2011

After a furious case of packing, mom, dad and I left for the airport around 11:30 am on Wednesday, September 7th. I got to drive. Dad said it was because it would be my last time driving for months, but really, it’s because Robin and I usually don’t let either one of the parents drive in the cities when we’re home. We can’t handle it :)-

Once at the airport, I called Robin to tell her I was leaving. Then I had to call Sara. Those were two of the saddest phone calls I’ve ever made. We were all crying. Mom was standing in front of me crying while I was talking to them. Even dad was a little teary-eyed. I apologize to others that I would have liked to call. I couldn’t handle it anymore!

I got my last parental hugs for the next 3 ½ months, and went through security. I had to follow the Johnson family tradition of waving once I was all the way through and trying not to cry hysterically. Yes, I was really excited to go, but it was very bittersweet. When a person embarks on an adventure like this, you gain experiences that most people only dream of. The flip side is that you also give up a lot. I knew I would be giving up pretty much everything familiar and comfortable to me. That’s a part of the adventure, but that doesn’t mean it’s not hard.

I left Minneapolis around 4:45. I arrived in Chicago about an hour later. I had a 4 hour layover there. And you can bet your bottom dollar that I had an expensive-ass beer in the airport. Can you blame me? It was going to be my last one for months! I then had an 8 hour flight to Frankfurt, Germany. I was in the middle seat. I’m sure a few of you know how ungodly uncomfortable the middle seat is on an 8 hour flight that goes throughout the night. I did have the foresight to take my contacts out in Chicago, so that did help. I don’t think I’ve been that excited to get off an airplane in years! It’s enough to make a girl want to fly business class…although, that could set a very expensive precedent. I suppose it would have helped if my ticket wasn’t last minute...

Once in Frankfurt, it was the 8th, and I had another 4 hours to kill. I found the McDonald’s and had an $8 Coke and water. For real. My plane was supposed to leave around 6 pm on Thursday the 8th. There was a mechanical problem with the plane, so it didn’t leave for another 2 hours, and then it was a different plane. The wait was not fun, but the plane was worth it for the 5 hour flight. I had my own row of seats, and they all had mini-televisions in them. I was able to pick my own movies! I watched Water for Elephants and Pirates 4.

I finally arrived in Kuwait around 1:30 in the morning on Friday the 9th. I had to go through customs, then wait for my bags. They have porters in the airport with varying sized carts. Of course my bags took forever to get off the plane. After he finally got all my bags, we took them over to security. They screen EVERYTHING that comes in through the airport. Of course 2 of my bags were flagged. One had kitchen supplies in it (knives, a garlic press, spatulas) and I have no idea what was in the other one that flagged it, but after the guy looked through it he let me through.

I had no idea who was going to be there to pick me up, but I saw a guy holding a sign that said, “ASK” on it. His name was Chris, he was one of the orientation coordinators. We went outside to wait for the bus to come and get us, and he paid the porter 1 KD for my bags (that was in the previous information I had received – there was no way I was lugging 4 large suitcases, a backpack and a small suitcase by myself). The bus ride to the apartments took about ½ an hour. It was after 3 am by the time I arrived at my apartment. Chris had to excuse himself because he was sick, then helped me wheel my bags to the elevator and on to my apartment. After he left, I had myself a good cry, and then passed out in my bed. I couldn’t help but notice that the bed had the most hideous comforter I had ever seen on it.