Sorry I wasn’t able to post a before blog.. I planned on writing one during a layover and everything did NOT go as planned! Everything had been going smoothly my first time traveling by myself, tears at the airport in Jacksonville as expected, and then off to my first flight to New Jersey. In New Jersey, my flight to LA kept getting delayed so my fantastic mother managed to get me on an earlier flight so I would not miss my LA to Sydney flight! While I was in line for my plane to LA I met a lovely friend who is also studying at Sydney Uni which was very comforting! Once I got to LA, everything became messy.. I was in line about an hour and a half before my flight was to leave, and an airline worker came up to me in line and said to check in and he will walk me to my flight so I wouldn’t miss it (it was my TEAN group flight). I was at the front checking in and the lady at the counter told me I missed my flight (which I hadn’t!). So naturally, I had a breakdown in the airport.. She told me she could put me on a waiting list to go to Melbourne THEN Sydney and I didn’t know what to do! Finally someone super nice helped me and told me to run over to a gate and ask about an earlier flight so I could maybe be with my group (I didn’t know how transportation from the Sydney airport would work, causing me to panic even more). Then the kindness from the airline workers was overflowing and all of them were assisting me as much as possible, making sure everything would work out okay. On the fifteen hour plane ride, I sat next to a wonderful couple from Sri Lanka who live in Melbourne and gave me their contact information, saying I could stay with them whenever I pleased. When I got to Melbourne, I met another wonderful couple, the woman from England and the man from Australia, and they gave me timtams (which I am now addicted to!). Qantas also had lost my luggage so I spend the next few days of orientation borrowing clothes from friends, but it didn’t bother me because I am just so excited to be in Australia after such a crazy series of events getting here!! We’ve already climbed the Sydney harbour bridge, had an “Amazing Race” around the city, and pet koalas and wallabies!! My homestay family is FANTASTIC, so incredibly kind and two pets I love, making me feel right at home. I’ll post a more detailed update soon- can’t wait!!! Cheers!:)
