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Published: June 12th 2009
28th & 29th MAY 2009 - JOURNEY HOME!!
I woke up at about 5am! Butterflies in my belly!! I was nervous, excited, scared, happy and sad all at once...and it wasn't even time of the month!!! I stayed in bed for a bit trying to get back to sleep but it was no use...I was wide awake and could not stop thinking about the long journey home!! I got up at around 6 after tossing and turning for a while and snook out to grab my last cold shower for a while. Back in the room, Nat had woken up and she felt pretty much the same as me...all mixed up!! Neither of could quite believe we were going home yet we knew the end had come. Such a strange feeling!!
Once we had packed our backpacks for the final time (woo...certainly won't miss living out of a backpack) we set off out to the bus stop. Only a short walk and our bags were surprisingly light after we had thrown about half of our clothes that we never wanted to see again!! The bus ride to the airport was a a short one and we headed in through the
'Departures' entrance!! As usual, thing didn't go quite to plan. As we got in the queue to check in with American Airlines, we were sent back to pay our airport tax at the desk. Airport tax? Come on!! Surely not!! We reluctantly paid what we supposedly owed and then got back in the check-in queue.
Check in wasn't straight forward either. The usual happened where our ticket numbers didn't match the booking. So annoying as we had emailed our booking agent several times about this happening and he had assured us he had sorted it out and we wouldn't have any problems on our final 2 flights. We were at the desk for ages whilst the helpful lady tried to sort it all out for us. Even then, she could only sort our flight to Miami and said we would have to sort our final flight out with British Airways when we arrived!! Is nothing ever straight forward?!!
Once we had finally checked in, we headed through to the departure lounge and looked for somewhere to get some breakfast as we hadn’t eaten yet that morning. It was quite a small airport and there wasn’t a great deal
of choice. I would have been happy with McDonalds pancakes but there wasn’t even a McDonalds. I had to settle for a pastry and a cookie…not the healthiest start to the day!! Nat got a burger and chips and I am not sure it was the breakfast she envisaged either.
Following ‘breakfast’ (I will use the term loosely) we headed to the gate and sat there until it was time to board the plane. I was hopeful for personal TV screens, a good meal and possibly some flight socks. I was disappointed!! American Airlines are possibly the worst airline we had flown with. No TV, let alone a personal screen, no food, no goody bag and no customer service!! It’s not like it was a short flight either at over 3 hours!! It did give me a chance to get a little sleep and write a bit of my journal but even so…it was rubbish!! I wouldn’t mind if it was an economy airline but when you are paying a hefty price you expect a decent service!! I was not a happy bunny and neither was Nat!
We landed in Miami 5pm Miami time and weren’t due to
fly until about 8pm. We were both starving not having eaten since breakfast but we had to collect our luggage and go and queue up at the BA desk to check in for our final flight. There was only one person on the desk and after a while he said ‘I’ll be back in a minute’ and then scarpered. He didn’t come back for ages and the queue was getting longer and longer. Everyone was getting impatient however in true British style, the lady at the front complained!! I knew I was getting closer to home as she branded the whole thing ‘a disgrace’ and demanded that a staff member come to the desk immediately to deal with the check in process. It was quite amusing really and I could see her point especially as there were 2 members of staff manning the first and club class queues (total of 1 passenger) and no one on economy (total of about 70 passengers)!! After she complained a little more, a lady eventually came out and began checking us all in.
As usual, our flight ticket numbers didn’t match our booking and we were at the desk for a while. Unlike
the other check in attendants on other flights the BA lady didn’t huff and puff and make a fuss. She just got on with it and checked us in as quick as she could. Loving BA and despite the lack of staff and long queue business, I had high hopes for the flight!!
Once checked in for the final time (eek) we headed to get something to eat. There was a lovely Panini shop and we both over indulged on a Panini and a muffin. Why, I am not sure as BA always provides substantial meals. I suppose we didn’t want to take any chances after the American Airlines starvation flights.. Honestly…I was still disgruntled about that!! Once eaten up, I had a browse around duty free before we boarded the plane at around 8pm.
It felt weird getting on the plane. We knew it was our last flight yet it still didn’t feel real. Everyone around us was speaking English in different English accents and I felt very aware of how close to home we were. I could not believe how much we had crammed into an 8 month trip or how quickly it had gone. As
I took my window seat I text my parents to let them know that I was on the plane and the next stop would be London. I then turned my phone off and settled down for the flight…we were on our way home!!
The flight was awesome. Pillows, blankets, socks, eye masks, toothbrush and toothpaste, personal tv screen with a choice of entertainment, a choice of meal, as many drinks as one would like…bloody brilliant!! Things got even better when I looked through the films list. There was only an option to watch Anchorman!! I mean…come on…you could not get any better!!! The food was good (no kidding), the entertainment was vast and the drinks kept flowing. Well done BA…1st class!!
I normally sleep quite well on planes but not on this flight. I wasn’t uncomfortable but no matter how hard I tried I could not sleep. I knew mum and dad would be waiting for me at the airport. I was really excited to see them and at the same time I was really sad that my trip had come to an end!! The flight went pretty quickly really to say we were on there for about
9 hours. I watched a couple of films, a spot of friends, a bit of comedy at the Apollo...none of which were the best choices for a night flight. As you know...I don't have the quietest laugh and I'm sure those around me trying to sleep did not appreciate the constant giggles coming from my mouth!!
Before I knew it, the steward was bring breakfast around and we were being told to put of seatbelts on ready for the descent. I opened the blind to see it was bright blue sky. I watched as we flew over land I caught my first glimpse of England for the first time in 8 months. It felt weird to see the London Eye and the river Thames as we flew lower and lower getting ready to land!! I felt the butterflies in my tummy flutter their wings a little harder. Nat was felling a little like me and neither of us knew what to expect at all. Would we just slot back into normal life? What is normal life? Do we even want a normal life anymore? I wandered if I had changed at all and how that would affect things. Would
I still get on with the same people, like the same things or react in the same way I used to! One thing was for sure…we would soon find out!!!
I felt the plane touch down on the runway and I just can’t explain how I felt at that moment. Thud Thud Thud!! My heart was beating so loud and hard I thought it may come through my chest. Why I was nervous I had no idea. I just hoped that it wouldn’t feel like a dream and as though I had never been away. I was sure it wouldn’t but neither of us knew what would happen, or what to expect. We were both quiet as we walked off the plane. No stamp in the passport this time, no panic about finding a hostel or worrying how to get to the hostel, no language barrier....all we had to do was find our way out of the airport. Straight through immigration and onto the luggage carousel. I wasn’t as nervous about my luggage this time…not much from my backpack I would miss if I lost it. Even so…there it was and I heaved it onto my back for the
final time!! It was time to find our welcoming party!!
As we walked through the arrivals door I could see a lady waving in the distance but couldn’t make out who it was without my spectacles (blind as a bat I am). It didn’t look like mum though and we continued walking…browsing the people nearby for sign of my folks. I felt strangely uncomfortable and was comforted to feel Nat’s presence beside me and know she was going through a similar thing. So strange!! As we walked on, I saw my family. Not just mum and dad either as I expected. Both my sisters were there and Alyssa (eldest sister’s daughter). Alyssa ran up to us both and gave us a welcome home balloon as well as giving me a big hug! I wasn’t very receptive to be honest as I was a bit overwhelmed by it all! It was lovely seeing her though. She had grown up a lot and changed too. I wandered what else had altered since being away!!
We walked forward to see my family. Mum had tears in her eyes and gave me a big hug. Dad eyes were even watering too though
if you asked if he was crying he would probably blame hay fever. They really did seem to have missed me and were pleased to have me back!! Ha…give them a couple of weeks…it will soon change!! It was a case of hugs and hellos all round. It was very weird for me. I was really pleased to see them all as I had missed them all very much but at the same time I think actually seeing people I knew caused it to hit home….I was home!! The adventure was over!!
After a brief catch up in the airport we headed to the cars and began the long drive back to Normanton. Nat and I got in a car with my mum and dad. We told stories about our trip, caught up on what was happening at home and generally chatted for the entire journey. I turned my phone on and saw O2-UK which made me feel funny. Certainly no forgetting where I was and living the dream a little longer now the phone was on...I had a bout 10 texts waiting for me to welcome me back to English soil. We stopped at the services for a
coffee on the way home….mmmmm….English tea! One up on the rest of the world for sure!! Back in the car we continued the journey to Normanton…the place we called home. When we pulled up at Nat’s house her mum came out to meet her and it was Nat’s turn to get the hugs and welcomes. I said my good byes to Nat and left them to it. It would be strange not spending every single second of every day with her from now on. I wandered how I would cope!! We then continued on our way to my house. Things were still the same and once through the door I went straight to the kitchen for a bowl of Special K. There really is no place like home and looking around…seeing my family around me and knowing I would see my friends the following day…I was pleased to be back!! For now at least!!
I really had loved every moment of my trip and would definitely do it again if I got the chance. I had lived a different lifestyle for 8 months and how I had been living had become normality for me. I had seen some amazing
things and done stuff that I never thought I would get chance to do. I had pushed myself to the limit so many times, I had faced fears and met challenges. The whole experience was mind blowing from start to finish and I can honestly say I really did have the time of my life. I had lived the dream!!! The only question now is where to go for my next adventure?!!!
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Steve
non-member comment
Journey home
what a lovely story!