We're Here!!!

I've been writing on my computer and saving them until I found internet...

June 22nd.
The day has actually come - sitting at the airport waiting to board a plane to Newark. Then off to the UK! I still don't believe this is happening :) Cat drove us to the airport - and brought Henry with - and my eyes welled up when she drove away. I didn't think I would be emotional about leaving, at least not until I was in England and feeling homesick, but it happened. I'm kind of nervous about leaving home for so long - I can't stop wondering if I did everything I had to do (I say wondering, I mean internally freaking out) - but it will be a wonderful adventure!
As I'm waiting for our first plane I keep flip-flopping between absolutely ecstatic and totally freaking out. Am I really doing this? Are we really just going to the UK for 6 weeks? Yes. We are. Now I need to get a grip! I take great comfort in knowing Colleen, Ryan and Tiny T will be there to greet us. And hopefully feed me coffee ASAP!

June 22nd - Later.
!st flight almost took off without a hitch. We were being pushed back from the gate when all of our electricity turned off. uh-oh. We had no power and had to taxi back to the gate, plug the plane back in (to what?!), wait, then try it all again. Luckily, the whole process only took about 15 minutes. Is this a bad sign for things to come?

June 23rd
Indeed it was a bad sign of things to come. We were supposed to depart from Newark for Birmingham at 7:05. Three and a half hours later – 10:30pm – we were finally off of the ground. Sitting on the Tarmac for 3.5 hours sucked. But hey, we're in England. :)

My solo adventure has begun! Yes, solo. Leo has to ride a bus from the University with all of the little kiddies so I was on my own to get from Birmingham to Worcester. I'm a big girl and I did it without any problems! Leo took all of my luggage with him (bless his heart) so that made my travel much less chaotic. Bought a rail ticket.

I write this as a sit in Birmingham New Station waiting for my connecting train. I feel happy. And sad. And excited. And lonely. And happy. And tired. And happy.

Things to note:
1. The first bathroom I used in the UK - here at this rail station - charged me 30 pence to enter. And there was one tiny little mirror. How's a girl supposed to freshen up?
2. There is no structure to the way a toilet flushes. All of the water sprays around and makes somewhat of a mess. Dislike.
3. The first song I heard in the rail station cafe (where I am now) was Heartbeats. The slow mellow version. I instantly felt at home.
4. A really sweet, older lady just sat down next to me. Even though there are tons of open tables. I felt as if she could see my eyes were a little wide and noticed the slightly frantic look on my face and was just there to say "It's okay." I loved her. :)
5. Gotta run! My train is here :)