Travel Struggles

I have finally arrived in New Zealand! 

Going into this study abroad program, I was well aware the travel process would be no easy feat.  While I imagined the length of the flight would be the biggest challenge, I was definitely mistaken. Looking back on it all, I was by no means prepared for the harsh reality of what traveling alone with luggage for a 4-month stay could really have in store for me.

Challenge #1:

Wheel from my suitcase

Life wasted no time throwing a monkey wrench into this long travel process for me.  Once my mom and I arrived at the airport and finally found a parking spot, we went to unpack all my bags.  As my mom pulled out my checked bag out of the car, it landed in an awkward way and the wheel popped right off! We had spent all morning trying to pack and get everything situated under 50lbs that we could not stop laughing at this extremely unfortunate timing. Once we pulled ourselves together we finally moved on into the airport, but the fun certainly did not stop there.

Where the wheel is missing from

Challenge #2:

Despite weighing my checked bag at home, of course I was over the limit. Even after taking off the weight with the wheel, it was still too much. Prepared for this being a possibility, I took out something for my mom to take home and redistributed a few items into my carry-on.  Now thinking the worst of it has passed, I stop for a quick photo-op with my roommate April.  Little did I know, this was just the beginning of it all.

My roommate and me

Challenge #3:

April and I made our way to the security line and just after saying our goodbyes to our parents, I was pulled aside. After redistributing my items into my carry-on, it was visibly bulging and I had to prove it would fit in the over-head storage bin. When there looked like there was no hope in fitting it in the device they use to measure carry-ons, my roommate’s mom and I managed to get the suitcase to fit. We may have broken off part of the carry-on in the process as well as begged for sympathy from the lady who pulled me aside, but in the end she let me move forward as planned.

Challenge #4:

Now alone, my roommate long passed security, I was profusely sweating in the sweatshirt and jacket I piled on to save space in my suitcases. Surprisingly, I still made it to the gate all in piece.  Not surprisingly, they gate checked my carry-on.  While I was disappointed in the moment since my flustered self was afraid they would lose my bag; in hindsight, it made the rest of my travels easier not having to worry about lugging that around.  

Challenge #5: 

Finally, it was time to board the plane.  This was when I realized I got the middle seat...my favorite.  I don’t necessarily consider myself a people person so the thought of being sandwiched between two people for the flight to LA was not ideal, but there was still hope for the long flight from LA to New Zealand, that's the one that really mattered.

Sporting the middle seat

Challenge #6:

After a smooth first flight, things were looking up.  That is until we landed.  We were a little later than planned and soon learned we had to book it across the entire airport to get to our gate for the connecting flight.  Struggling to navigate and stay together as a group, we just made it to our gate in time. We had little to no time to do anything before boarding yet another flight, where surprise, surprise I was sporting the middle seat again­—this time next to a stranger with very little respect for personal space.

Making our way to the connecting flight

Challenge #7:   

Squeezing into the already small space I had to sit, I shoved my overpacked backpack under the seat in front of me and tried to make myself as comfortable as possible for the next 12 hours.  Since dinner did not come right away and we had just booked it through the airport, I decided to take a sip of my water.  As soon as I pulled my water out of my bag, it was noticeably lighter from the last flight where it was still half full.  I went to take a swig thinking I was remembering wrong only to realize there was absolutely not water left.  It had spilled all over my bag and everything in it.  I didn’t realize the extent of the damage until I got to my room at the university.  At home I would not consider this part a big deal, but what I had was all I had and a lot of it was soaking wet upon arrival.  With everything that had already happened this was just the cherry on top of this whole travel experience and quite an unnecessary hurtle if you ask me.

Regardless of these various struggles, I made it! And every moment since I got here has been unbelievable! Traveling may not be my strong suit, but you live and you learn. And now that I'm here, I can’t wait to share all the experiences I’ve had so far and the rest to come as the semester goes on.