As you might guess, I was quite terrified to be going somewhere so far away from home, and for so long. Terrfied and extremely excited. My nerves were on end! You also might imagine what was running through my mind when I got to Philadelphia from Denver after my first flight had been delayed an hour. My layover was only an hour. PANIC! Running out of control across the airport (of course my connecting flight was as the furthest gate in Philadelphia, I think approximately 3.27 miles?) to find them closing the doors could only be expected. They wouldn't let me on. Even after I managed to squeeze out a few tears (ok a few might be slightly under exaggerated). They wouldn't help me. They had my carryon, my luggage, everything. I didn't even have a cell phone! And they wouldn't even help me find a hotel. They did, however, happen to find it in their hearts to give me a toothbrush that probably cost about 2.6 cents and that probably cost a negative 3.1 cents to make in Tijuana.
It was symbolic, really, looking back on it. I was caught in the middle of wanting to go on this crazy adventure and wanting to stay home with my friends, with my family where I was safe, where I was entirely within the boundaries of my comfort zone.
In the end, everything worked out, as it always does. I ran into Mr and Mrs M, who had missed that same flight. They took me under their wing and took care of me (and took me sight seeing in Philly) until I was safe in the hands of Sussex Uni. I just needed a little boost, a little encouragement to realize that I really did want (or maybe it was need?) to jump out of my comfortable skin and find new and unfamiliar borders, both within and in all directions.
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