I'll Be Home for Christmas

Hello! Well, I'm finally home and let me tell you...I won't be taking another plane ride for a really, really long time. But before I get into that, the few days before I left were pretty crazy. It started off with me finding out that I got a "C" in one of my classes. You see, the way they grade in England is much different from the States. You are graded not by your participation/a few papers/and knowledge of the reading, but by ONE yes, ONE 7 page paper at the end of the term. Okay, not bad, just do well on your paper right? WRONG. You could be the greatest writer in the world but if the Professor does not agree with your opinion (did I mention that the Professors in Europe don't think students are "educated" enough to have opinions in the first place?) then they will rip your paper to shreds...and that's what my Romanticism Professor did. Grammar (excellent), opinion (in my mind, well thought), and structure (not too bad..) still, I received a "C". One thing is for sure, after living in England and studying there for three months the one let down that I had was...well...SCHOOL! To me, the school system there teaches you HOW and WHAT to think where Caz I beleive teaches me how to write down WHAT I think and HOW what I think will look well on paper. Anyway, enough ranting...

That same day I went into town with my very good friend, Caroline Locatelli. We went shopping at H&M for some sweaters and scarves and to a cafe called the Secret Cellar. We had a great time talking about our plans for opening our own coffee shops, ex-boyfriends, religion, and what it would be like going back to Cazenovia. The next day my most lovely roommate in the world, Nikita Poland and I stayed up late and went to a hotel called Abode. It is apart of a chain owned by actor Michael Cain. Well, apparently he was supposed to be there that night so Nikita and I gabbed some of the best Pimms ever and sat in the back room outside of the dining room where everyone was seated. Even though we didn't get to see him, it was still loads of fun. The next day, Nikita, Caroline and I went back into town for some last minute presents. Before we had met up with Caroline though, Nikita and I stopped by the crepe stand near Waterstones (a.k.a Borders). The guy at the stand was British and he said something along the lines of, "Hello, what can I get you?" we told him what we wanted and as he was making ours these three little French girls came up next - suddenly, the guy started speaking French to them! We were like, ah cool! After fulfilling our order we saw that a few Spanish teens came up and asked for some crepes in broken English. The guy nodded and randomly started talking Spanish to them! The Spanish girls were more shocked than we were! Wow...a crepe man who can speak three different languages, very cool!

That night was our last night in town, we had a great time going to the Jolly Sailor and having a blast just talking and playing games. Later on, Nikita, Shanna and I went to Nikita's flat to say good-bye to our friends Rick and Erica (Illinois). I started SOBBING when I was saying good-bye to Erica. I tried to hold it in and then realized, what the heck am I doing? I've done so much with this girl!! and cried into her shoulder. Then I had to hug Rick, and he was like, "Don't cry, we've seen movies that most people have never even heard of!" which just made me cry some more. It was crazy, but I needed a good cry. Who knows when I will ever see these people again...

The next day was moving out day. I said good-bye to Mark, Jake and Ellen and climbed onto our bus unaware of the EXTREMELY long and frustrating journey ahead. When we finally got to the airport and on the plane, I immediately turned on the TV in front of me and watched three movies in a row (X-Files - I Want to Believe, Ghost Town, and Hellboy II - The Golden Army). I suggest the last two. All of a sudden, I checked to see what time it was...8:30pm...we were SUPPOSED to land thirty minutes ago! Me, my two friends named Ashley, and my friend Lindsay were all on the same flight to Syracuse that took off at 10:40. We all had these weird inclinations that we weren't going to make it on time. When we finally landed at 9:00pm we raced off of the plane, went through customs and got our luggage (which TOOK five billion years in my case). My friend Jen had a flight to Buffalo that left at the same time so when we both got our luggage we raced there together (the two Ashley's had already left and Lindsay was no where to be found). Now, my bags were really heavy (my Papa STILL has no idea how I did it) but I dragged that huge suitcase plus my over packed "bathroom" bag as well as my purse (stuffed with clothes that wouldn't fit) and my computer bag (which was full of presents). I got to the check-in point and, out of breath, I asked the guy if he could quickly check my bags. He asked me what flight I was on and I told him. After he looked up my flight and printed my ticket he told me straight off that I wasn't going to make it on time. That's when I started to cry. As he was charging me for my heavy luggage I called my mommy and told her what he had said. Mom calmed me down and reassured me that I was going to make it. I rushed over to the security check point and asked them if they could escort me to the front of the line because I had a flight to catch in 20 minutes. They looked at me like I was batty and said that everyone had the same flight to catch. I felt like bashing them in the head with my laptop. SAME FLIGHT!? Don't give me that crap...so I got in line and asked the people in front of me if I could get in front of them. One woman thought I was lying and asked me when my flight was. I said, "It's at 10:40...DO YOU WANT TO LOOK AT MY BOARDING PASS FOR PROOF!?" The husband spoke to his wife in Spanish, clearly asking her to let me get in front. I thanked them over and over again, but the people that were in front of them were even worse. They had at least 5 children all between the ages of 1 and 14 and the older kids and parents kept forgetting to take off their earrings and belts. I was like, you've GOT to be kidding me! LEARN HOW TO RIDE A FREAKIN PLANE! I asked a married couple (who had also asked to get in front because they were late for their 10:35 flight) what the time was. The lady said that it was 10:20. I was starting to freak out. I kept telling myself that I was NOT going to sleep in an airport tonight. I refused to sleep in a God-forsaken airport! I went through security as quickly as possible and threw my jacket over my arm, grabbed my purse, laptop, laptop bag (I didn't bother putting it away) and my shoes and ran like a hobo to the gate. There was a voice inside of me telling me that I didn't make it...that they had taken off...but all of a sudden, I heard my friend Ashley Langly's voice calling my name. "Ashley!" I called back. I was still sobbing! "Did I make it!" "Yes!" she called back as I got closer to the gate, "you made it!" I sobbed some more but this time it was in relief. I couldn't believe it, God was looking after me for sure. Ashley had apparently been telling the gate guy that I was coming and would be there soon (even though she had no idea where I was). He apparently said that he was going to hold the gate open until 10:30...I got there at 10:28. I gave the gate guy my ticket and sobbed the whole way down the ramp to the plane. Once I got to the door the two flight attendants looked at me with shock. I can only imagine what I looked (and smelled) like. No shoes, no make-up, tears in my eyes, and stinky arm pits. "I made it," I said to them.

Sooooooooo, I'm home (thank goodness) I felt bad that Lindsay didn't make it on time - but at least she was with her boyfriend. The whole time I was racing there I kept telling myself that I was going to be home for Christmas...and of course, I was <3

Be sure to check out my new blog "Behind the Curtain" in my profile. It will be updated soon! LOVE & PEACE!!!