My mom gave me some money, helped me pack the newly purchased items and hugged me goodbye. That was it. From that moment, until I (hopefully) found my group at Heathrow, I was on my own. For some reason, as soon as I walked through the doors that had parted for me I felt confidence. I didn't feel the anxiety leave me, and I don't know where it went, but I was glad to be rid of it.
From then on, it became every other flight experience I have had on my own. I checked my bad, went through security and waited at my gate for an hour - the anxiety had led to severe earliness. I pulled out my journal, ipod shuffle (equipped with only ob tunes) and a piece of bread left over from lunch with my mom. I didn't speak to anyone, thought I felt the eyes of a young man sitting near. I was very content to write, listen and munch, resisting all temptation to shop at the money pits at the airport. It's interesting how quickly poverty can change to financial freedom once I am 'on a trip'.
I was finally time to board and the anxiety had completely given way to excitement. I got a window seat - fantastic! The girl I sat next to seemed oddly shy. She was pretty, well-dressed, but unexpectedly unwilling to speak to me, or even look me in the eye. She did crossword puzzles - I was jealous and knew we could be friends if she would give me a chance. I listened to some more ob, perused the United Airlines magazine and tried to do the included sudoku. I was hard, I was feeling tired and a bit motion-sick, so I gave up, despite my initial zeal. WE landed in DC in little more than an hour and I made my way to the next gate without incident - no customs business, as I had expected. On the second flight I had a window seat as well - outstanding. The plane was much bigger - maybe ten seats and two isles across. I watched as many people stared at the seat numbers and letters in confusion - one man imparticular stared for quite some time with a dumbfounded look on his face that made me smile. As we took off, I gazed out the window at the city in the dark. The lights shone like the pegs on my old Light Bright and the moving reflection of the full, or nearly full, moon on the scattered bodies of water was eerie and captivating.
The woman sitting next to me had, unfortunately, failed to address me in the first moment of her sitting - making any communication (other than necessary) an awkward risk that, it seemed, neither of us were willing to take. So, my flight was filled by a movie - Because I Said So, heartwarming - meals and sleep. I didn't get to watch an Office episode as I had on the first flight, but the movie, food and nap were well appreciated.
When we finally landed, I began to wonder how the reunion would take place. I didn't even know if the group, or Tyler, was there or not. I made the long journey from the plane, through customs and to the baggage claim, all while doubting every decision to proceed. When I came out of the gate, there were several people holding signs - I longed for one to say EF, none did. I studied the 'Arrivals' screen. No flights from Atlanta. Where were they? Finally, and fortunately, I approached the 'Airport Information' desk and explained my predicament. The gracious man behind the counter paged an 'EF representative'. Not thirty seconds later, a small, European-looking man approached. His hair was bleached in a way that created a white mohawk. He asked my name and he said he'd been looking for me - I saw my name scribbled on his clipboard. He sent me to stand at the top of a staircase while he twittered to and fro around the room like a humming-bird. He finally collected me and led me, at a pace almost too quick for my little legs, through many hallways, people-movers, escalators and intersections until half of the tour group came into view, Tyler included. They had the earlier flight and, it seemed, had been waiting for me, thought even when I joined the group, odd-looking mohawk man did much more twittering before we actually boarded the bus.
Something interesting - while still in the airport, I heard and intercom-announced invitation for all present to attend a communion service with the airport chaplains! "All denominations welcome." I was blown away. Perhaps God wants me to see that it is dangerous to judge nations as God -forsaken and 'post-modern' just as it is people.
We boarded the bus and began our hourish-long journey to the hotel. My concerns about being the older outsider on the tour surfaced (and stayed there all day) and so I took to trying to be very funny - mild success. We arrived at the hotel, but couldn't check-in without the rest of our group, so we stowed our baggage and took over the lobby/breakfast area. I was summoned by Simon to explain the process by which I was reunited with the group. It seems there should have been a sign for me after all.
Simon, the Harkeys and I chatted for a while about education and Simon told us about himself - thirty-nine, loves his job thought it makes him single, well-educated, very well travelled and, according to me, very well suited to be our tour guide. The other group arrived and we were given an hour to check into our rooms and reconvene for a walking tour. Leah, Megan are roommates - good times. I use the time to journal and then we head downstairs.
We're late, of course. The group is led on a very fast-pace walking tour of London, hitting important things - Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Gardens, The Tower of London (beautiful view of it, anyway), a walk along the Themes and, finally, fish and chips. I was not as taken with London, or the fish and chips, as I was in high school. It is less magical, I think, because I understand it more, I am more experienced, less easily amazed. It's kind of sad, but also a bit empowering.
When we returned to the hotel, we had a little meeting, at which Dr. Thomas gave us a 12am curfew. The thought of re-entering the city had not occurred to me, I was just going to go to sleep. However, once the prospect raised in my mind, I remembered that our 'underground' passes were good all day (it was only seven 7:30) and sleep could wait. I talked my two roommates into it and we called up Tyler and Jacob. They and Scott met us in the lobby moments later and we were on our way.
We navigated back to Leicester Square, which was very bustly. We noticed a crowd of people pressed up against a barricaded area in front of a casino/movie theater. Our interest was piqued and so we joined the crowd. As it turned out, despite the rumors of movie premiers and celebrity sightings, it was only the grand opening of the casino. It was not in vain, however, we did get to see two women on stilts dressed up as a peacock and a flamingo - very entertaining, and also a few non-celebrities very dressed up and posing for photographers.
Other than that, we sat outside a pub, for Tyler, walked around an arcade/casino, for the boys, and got some Ben and Jerry's. We also took a very long time to reject a poor guy who tried everything to get us to come into his club. Oh yes, and Leah struck up a conversation with a charming Brit named Sebastian on the underground.
After all of this was done, we could barely keep our eyes open, despite the delicious Bohemian Raspberry ice cream :) We got back on the train and few words were spoken. I read, over the Meghan's shoulder, most of an article about America's 'aid' to starving African countries actually being a front for a publicity stunt that does nothing to help the situation of the African people, only feeds them temporarily, while boosting the US agriculture economy. These things are sad to hear anytime, but moreso when it is outside of the US. I'm not sure why, pride I suppose, but I would rather Americans be the only ones who know about the evils in America.
It has been a whirlwind 48ish hours and I hope it never stops . . .
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