A New Adventure

Here I am. Sitting in Seattle for 10 hours waiting for my flight. And the adventure has begun. It started this morning when I woke up dreading the 28+ hours of traveling ahead. Chicago-Seattle-Yokota-Yokosuka. I had my favorite Einstein bagel (spinach) with veggie cream cheese for breakfast. I had to say my first goodbye of the morning to Mia Blundetto. Then, the convoy left for the airport. I arrived with a seabag as big as me, another huge bag, and my carry on. My entourage consisted of Mom, Dad, Emily, Stephen, Alie, and Stuart. The nice lady at the counter was happy to hand out security passes like candy. We got through, Dad almost lost his belt, but we all made it. Things were going well, the knowledge that we soon had to say goodbye was like an impending doom, but we had a nice time waiting…until Alie and Stuart has to leave and then I fell apart as I was hugging my best friend since pre-school. From there things went downhill as I got closer to where people were boarding. I decided all the crying was silly since it’s not like I’m dying or something, but I still couldn’t stop. Stephen held up well and Mom just looked like a zombie. But I got on the plane with Dad taking pictures of me with his phone, a new talent Emily had just taught him while waiting. They all stood and watched my plane take off and fly away.

The first flight to Chicago was uneventful, I pretty much fell asleep. Once I got to Chicago I walked next to a guy going to Frankfurt and then Afghanistan so I thought to myself, things could be worse. My next flight kept me thoroughly entertained between the barking dog, the children next to me, and the 2 hour long, loud conversation behind me. I arrived in Seattle, got my bags, and paid four dollars for a cart to hold my bags, which was totally worth it in the end since my seabag probably would have broken my back. I need one of those intense hiking backpacks Lisa has. The random information guy told me where to go to find the place to check in and the USO. The ticketing desks were empty. Great, still clueless. So I am wandering around an empty airport with no idea what to do , so I went to the USO. There, I fit in. I have the seabag and the orders and I’m waiting to go to Japan, but I’m also a girl, carrying a bright pink bag too. So I kinda still stuck out. But it got me a friend to go to dinner with who is a Marine and heading to Okinawa. We knew a few people in common. As we all know, the military is a small world.

That brings me to now. I’m just sitting, and waiting, and thinking. I’m sorry if this is boring. Give me a break, it’s my first try. My next plan: plane to Yokota, bus to Yokosuka, meet Jaime, sleep, eat sushi.

Things I’ve learned:
Write down my thoughts when I have them because I had some really good ones that I now forget!
Tooth brushes won’t trigger the automatic faucet. You have to use your hand. It’s better just to find a regular faucet.
The Japanese exchange rate is 10 to 1. In Japan, 1,000 yen is about 10 dollars. This will be interesting.
Don’t leave your iPod in the bottom of your carryon bag that you put above your head, it becomes a problem when you desperately need it on the plane to drown out the noise and the seatbelt sign is on.
When in doubt: find the USO.