May 8, 2011

Home Sweet Home

Okay so after the 16th I had one last day in Swansea. I took pictures and went around in the snow! But because of the snow the next day was crazy.
Let's start with leaving. I woke up and headed for the bus station with my roommates and Summer. We took josh's car and it was a sad goodbye. I almost didn't hold it together because Adam gave me a photo with a collage of a lot of our memories. Amazing he has a heart :). 
Then we waited for the other 3 girls. Christina and Alecia finally joined us but Valorie did not make it. The 4 of us then set out for the train station since the buses were not running and we needed to get to London.  A little snow and they stop everything. We got our money back and then went to the train station and got on the next train and went to London. Once we got to London it was mass chaos in Paddington. We managed to get onto the Heathrow Express and then sat on the train until it moved. Next stop Heathrow and the madness there. It took us almost two hours to get off the train and onto the coach out to our hotel. All in all this little trip took about 9 hours total. We left our house at 830 and arrived around 630 at the hotel. After dinner we called it a night and just sat in our room... We were all stressed hoping that our flights worked out and we were able to go home. But for a day we got to see London again. I love London and was so happy to have one more awesome day there! We went on a walking tour, it was just me and summer and christina. We got to see all the major sites; Buckingham, Big Ben, You know that kind of important church where I believe a Prince just got married, and Trafalgar Square.
 On our tour I met a really handsome guy from Belgium and after the tour we all went to dinner and chatted wit him. It was almost surreal how movie like it was lol. We did a little souvenir shopping afterwards and he joined us and for goodbye he gave us a kiss goodbye! Amazing! I melted honestly. By the time we got home it was late and we all went to bed for a little while and at 3 am I woke up to check flights. Cancelled. When we called Summer's uncle he got us onto a flight... on Dec 24th. It was December 20th. So when I talked to my folks they suggested attempting to get on Standby. So a bunch of went up to the airport to try that. We were successful but we had to go back and get our luggage which was a crazy trip. we had to drag them across the street and down the road to the other hotel where the hoppa bus would stop. We were literally throwing our bags over the wall as it pulled up. We get to Heathrow and it's packed. People are everywhere and there is barely room to move. Then we check in and get put on standby and got in line to check in. The line didn't move for a long long time but I think we finally moved around 1 pm. 10 hours awake already. We get checked in by around 3 or so with our flight set to fly out at 4pm if we get called to board. That was a big IF but we were all praying. I sat by nice random strangers that allowed me to chat with them and we all discussed heading home. Then it was time. Then it was still not time as the delayed flights continued. Finally they began to call for the standby passengers. Deep Breaths! Finally Valorie gets called. But no one else after for about 5 people. Then my turn! Yes, I was going home!! But still not everyone else. I was ready to give up my ticket to one of the two girls who were dying to go home. I was so happy when we all got called and were able to board the plane! Sadly we got delayed again in Boston to pick up new crew. It was eleven pm when we landed. We finally make it to Detroit at like midnight. After coming thru customs and heading to the desk to get our connection tickets we get sent a to hotel around 2 am. We had flights at 7 so we didn't get but maybe an hours nap after we took a shower and got all set. Christina and I were by ourselves now since the other girls were heading to Tulsa. 7 am rolls around and I have basically been awake for about 28 hours. I wanted to die just a little on the inside. But when I got off my flight and saw my parents waiting I was so happy. I just wanted to cry because of the ridiculously long trip and tired feeling that had set in. After we ate lunch since I landed around 10 am, we headed home. I finally went to bed around 4pm that day and so after 34 straight hours I was never more happy than to just be in bed.




One thing is for sure I will never forget the 3 and 1/2 months that were the best and most amazing times of my life. Memories have begun to fade but the ones that really matter are still crystal clear. I hope that someday I can return to the place I now consider my second home. Preferably, with my new favorite girl in the world Chelsey Gruetzmacher so we can visit everyone we met and miss!!! 

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