Day 1- The Airport

So it's really here. I have been anticipating this trip for months. I don't think the excitement really set in until I got to the airport. I hand the lady at the counter my ID card and she gives it back to me immediately and takes my passport. My ID no longer matters, only my passport which tells almost my whole life story. My two pieces of luggage were taken away, I so thought I was going to get played. I had called the day before to confirm that I could have two pieces, despite the new laws.

So then all I'm left with is my carry-on bag and a heavy laptop bag. I sit in the airport with my wonderful boyfriend Steven, I start to realize that I'm going to miss him. He's such a big part of life that I never really thought about. When it's time for me to go through the security and get to the gate, i felt sad. We kiss, then I get in line, I wait a few seconds and just like the movies he's standing there looking back at me. I smile, wave goodbye and move forward in the line. The next time I tun around he's gone and I watch him fade away. I realize now that I am truly alone going on this trip of uncertainty.

I make it to the front of the line, I take three laptops out and put them in a tray. It takes forever to get through. The man says to me, "That's a lot of laptops." I just say "Yeah," and quickly repack them before I have to go through the extra security. So down at the gate, the flight has been delayed. Now I sit and wait, finally after an hour, we board. I feel so tired after waking up early to pack. Note to self: Don't plan two trips back to back and hang out the night before you leave to pack for 6 weeks.

We wait forever for our turn to take off and then we are in the sky. Goodbye USA! I end up sitting next to this older guy and he wants to talk. I'm thinking, please shut up, all I want to do is go to sleep. Well, he actually turns out to be an Italian guy who travels back and forth. He starts teaching me some Italian. Our dinner comes, and hats off to Alitalia, it was the best airplane food I had in a long time! I even got free wine, who needs first class, if it's free in economy? Sal, my first Italian friend, keeps the wine coming. Pretty soon I'm fast asleep and hope to be in Rome.