Anxiously Awaiting Arrival

4 AM found me lying in bed by the glow of my phone, looking up maps of Heathrow Airport.

I woke up to a bad dream that had me arriving in London.  In my dream, I managed to get on and off the plane without a hitch.  However, that was the end of my good luck streak.  Let's recap:

• At baggage claim there were 4 purple suitcase that looked exactly like mine, and the turnstile was going too fast so it was completely impossible to grab my bag. 
• The Customs line (or queue, as it's called in London) was snaked around so many corners that I could not see the end or the beginning of it. 
• Somehow we managed to find the trains to get in between terminals, but the staircase going to the underground trains (why they were underground, I don't know) was like the staircase that descends into hell--it was pitch black save for a few solo lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling by their wires, the steps were slippery because the ceiling was leaking, but there was no railing and we had to carry our baggage as well, so basically it was a lost cause.  
• After much hassle and stress we got to the platform and I looked at a map on the wall and decided that I needed to get on a 7, 8, or 9 train, but the only trains coming were A and B trains (which oddly reminded me of the NYC subway system) and I started to freak out because not only was I going to miss my bus heading to my housing but I was also stranded on this platform that was still shadily lit and vaguely looked like the setting in a horror film.

Alas, the anxiety dreams have begun.

So, that's how I ended up googling maps of Heathrow Airport at four in the morning.  I feel a lot more prepared, and honestly I probably wouldn't have either thought to look for maps of the airport if I didn't have that dream. 

Getting from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 is probably going to be the hardest part next Monday

I've feeling only slightly overwhelmed about arriving at the airport in London, more specifically making my way from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3, getting through customs, hopefully not losing my luggage, and most importantly, trying to make my bus on time.  To keep myself organized, I've been making meticulous lists of every little thing I have to do, so hopefully I won't forget anything.

Before I leave, I'm going to update with my packing list and tentative agenda for my first week in London (!!!)

Until then,

Cecelia

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Greetings from Pre-Departure

This time next week I'll be just arriving in London, making my way through the maze which is Heathrow airport before I officially begin my study abroad program.  Just the thought of having less than a week at home is unsettling, seeing as I'm currently sitting at my dining room table with piles of paperwork I still have to fill out and a bedroom down the hall that is a disaster zone of unpacked belongings.

I made this blog as a way to record my semester!  However, I'm sure it'll end up as a multi-purpose tool as a way to keep in touch with people from home, hopefully hear from other people also studying abroad, and likely help me procrastinate everything important in life.

My goal is to post at least once a week, so if you haven't heard from me in a while, pester me until I post something.  I'm going to try to keep as up-to-date as possible, but hopefully I'll be too busy to spend loads of time on my laptop.

If you're studying abroad or have studied abroad already, I'd love to hear from you!  Even if you haven't studied abroad, I'd still love to hear from you.

Happy reading! (I promise I won't usually be this boring)

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