"You know, it's such a surreal and interesting feeling knowing that you're about to finally be able to do something that you never thought would be possible. For many reasons I never would have thought that I'd be able to embark on a Study Abroad somewhere--financial reasons, timing, clouding doubts about the entire endeavor. Nevertheless, here I am, on the doorstep to marking this down as "Accomplished" instead of "Improbable" or "Impossible". Adventures await, learning abounds, and I think I'm finally ready. Thanks to everyone who helped make it possible for me to study in Germany for a month...I really could not have gotten here without you.....Oh, yeah, and thanks JMU!!!"
--Andrew Martin, June 19, 2013

Yup...I just quoted myself.  

There's something oh so thrilling and yet terrifying about finally embarking on your own journey to another country.  A lot of people go in groups, getting their tickets at the same time, showing up at the same time, same flight, etc.--I didn't.  Not because I didn't want to go with anyone, but I simply didn't have the money at the time, and as the time frame close in, my monetary funds were depleting.  Nevertheless, I believe that it was fortuitous that ended up flying alone.  I believe that it created in me a sense of accomplishment, excitement, and possibly a little terror in some remote place in my mind.  

The goodbyes were simple, sweet, and quick.  There was no reason to drag it out, even though we could have--it wasn't like it was the last time I'd see everybody.  I mean, I'm not going away forever, and yet, a part of me felt like I was.  Maybe it was because this trip would mark the longest period spent overseas, not to mention traveling alone.  Or better still, maybe it was because a part me longed for such a change; to be able to pack up and leave, not knowing what you'll do or where you'll, but knowing you'll go places...there's something profoundly captivating about the spontaneity of those who actually endeavor such things . So were my thoughts alluding to aspirations of such things?  Maybe...Would I do that? Nah, I've got some other plans for my life.

Fast forward to take-off.  Unfortunately, I let an 8th grade girl coax me into letting her friend and I switch seats.  The new location was nice and roomy--because it was by the big Emergency Exit door that would not shut up.  The obscenely loud pressurizing machine in that door effectively kept me awake the entire trip.  In fact, as of this moment, I've been up for 28 hours.  We'll see how the rest of the day pans out.  I'm actually kind of glad that I didn't fall asleep.  If I had, I would have missed one of the most beautiful sunrises I've ever seen in my life.  The route that we took enable us to journey far enough north to where the horizon wasn't completely dark. Remnants of sunlight were still peeking through the darkness on the horizon, with blackness below and stars above.  Then, quite slowly, the hue of the horizon created the ROYGBIV spectrum and slowly becoming more and more pink.  The

suns rays bounced off each cloud, turning them a bright gold.  And with that tremendous view before my eyes it was forever seared into my eyes and mind--seriously it was.  The sun came up and it blinded me.

After landing, I went through the motions of getting my luggage and then taking the Tram to Terminal 2 in order to wait for Katie Corney, who on a separate flight from BWI-JFK-FRA.  Confused, I watched as many of the passengers from various flights came through the arrival area, but no Katie.  I checked the arrival board and found my issue: her flight was delayed by FOUR HOURS.  Yeah, four hours. Ridiculous.  So I returned to my seat, flipped over my Osprey pack, promptly transforming it into a pillow.  Yet again, I couldn't really sleep, what with all of the babies, and kids playing, parents yelling, etc.  I fell asleep for a short nap (come to find out it was only 15 minutes) and snored in the arrival area.  I figured that if everyone else can make their loud noises, so can I--challenge accepted, Germany.  In spite of my noise competition, I waited in anticipation for Katie to walk through the arrival area, but she never did--I officially lost Katie.  After yet another hour of waiting, I decided to run to the Information desk and promptly had them page her fourteen THOUSAND times on their intercom.  Katie never showed.

I was running out of patience and started becoming frantic--I wanted to know what happened!  She wasn't answering her phone (in fact, it was shut off), she couldn't respond to any Facebook messaging, emails, or anything else--what was going on?!?!  I asked the sweet old German ladies at the Kiosk what to do and they said to check down at the Delta airline ticketing booth.  I raced down there in search for answers, but they had already closed.  Now what do I do??? Well, when in doubt, call MOM!  I got my mom on the phone and she tried calming me down and told me to do the very thing I had just done.  Oh well, I wasn't sure what else to do but assume her flight was delayed.  I subsequently caught a taxi and ventured to our hostel, checked in, and put my stuff in our room. 

Low and behold, I get a text from mom; email, FB message, and text from Kaitlyn; and FB message from Katie's dad, all informing me that her flight was delayed and laid over in London.  Oh yeah, and as I checked Facebook, KATIE WAS ONLINE!!!  NOT ONE WORD TO ME!!! And welcome to the present: we just hopped a cab back to the hostel got settled in, I'm writing a blog, she took a shower, now we're both hungry.  Time to eat.