Airplane Adventures and Alliteration

Soundtrack: Plans by Grizzly Bear

Here I am at the airport, unbearably nervous and excited! Reading my Chilean guide book is too much to handle. My emotions are swaying from "so ready to get the hell there," to "what the hell am I doing!" Right now, erring on the side of "can't wait to begin my long awaited adventure."

My trip has already included a few interesting encounters.

While standing in the security line at IAH, I remembered aloud, "I forgot a plastic bag," for all of my liquids in my carry-on. A man kindly offered an extra one to me and I thankfully accepted. As the  conversation proceeded, its turns out in 2002 this guy studied in Santiago at the same University I'm about to attend! Among his words of advice were "Take in the beauty," and "I always say their language is a mix of Spanish and Chinese." (Great... at least I've listened to my Chinese boss speak for the past year.) He wished me un buen viaje and I boarded the plane.

I found my seat in the last row of the plane and sat next to one of the many typical business men found in airports. First thing he must mention, "I boarded early, I usually sit in first class but they ran out of room." He proceeded to tell me that his daughter was about to study abroad in Australia, so I threw in that fact that I'm about to study in Chile. His response, "Aren't you supposed to be in high school?" Mine, "No, I go to UT." (His face shows a little more approval) Him, "So you're a freshman?" Me, "No, I'm in my third year." He proceeds to tell me that his son is in the business school and receives straight A's without trying and asks me what I do there. Upon my answer of Liberal Arts, the conversation stopped.  I solidify his idea of me as I pull out my book written by Che Guevarra. He solidifies my idea of him as he later tells me I should focus on being a wife and mother, as women cannot succeed in having a career and a family. The only thing I could ask myself was what did I expect on a plane ride to Dallas, Texas?

That leaves me here at DFW, about to enjoy my last Shiner and my last Netflix Watch Instantly for the next six months.

Patiently waiting,
Lauren Adele