I have to be honest that I haven’t felt all that excited about his trip since I flew down for launch. It was great to see my squad again and he hotel was nice, but it just felt familiar. That was of course until my team and I left for the airport at 12:20 in the morning. The shuttle bus man was funny and made my night. Then when we got to the airport we had a cozy little place where we put our packs. I as well as many other people decided to take some time to sleep on the floor. It wasn’t a comfortable sleep, but it was better than nothing. I slept through the first two flights and then as much as I could between flights. I really began to feel the excitement when we got on our international flight to Poland. I have flown on many flights in my lifetime, but never have I been on one this big. I have seen planes this big in movies, but never thought I would ever see one in real life. There are clearly marked classes, not just a simple curtain separating them from each other. Also there is an entire row in the middle of the plane. When we took off in the plane, we passed a major roadway. I swear that the wings were so big that they were hanging above the cars driving on the road. I am in seat 19A, right next to the window. That is exactly where I would have chosen for myself. When we arrived on the plane, we passed by the cutest twin girls sitting in first class. Then I found my seat, right next to a lovely old man and the little girl who is traveling with him. The first thing he asked me was “Are you polish or English?” I attempted to answer him that I am from New York, but he asked me again. I then responded “I am American.” He informed me that he is English, but a little polish. I think I am beginning to understand how foreigners feel when they come to a strange country. The magazine was in a different language. It took me a minute to realize that it also was translated in English. But I also didn’t understand how to listen to the movie or entertainment if we weren’t allowed to use headphones. Then they came along with some wafer chocolate bars. The woman walked on before I got one, and apparently didn’t understand as I called out to tell her at, so sadly I didn’t get one. The little girl in my row got two, so we’ll jut say she got mine. She was cute anyway, so it is ok. I couldn’t figure out what the circular thing on the tray was, so the man next to me showed me. It was the cutest little cup holder. Boy would those have come in handy on my other flights. The pilot said that he skies were busy so we sat on the runway for a long time. He coolest thing was the windows. There weren’t any shades for them, instead you press a button and tint it until it is the right darkness for you. I finally settled on watching a movie for part of the flight so I wouldn’t miss dinner. When the dinner came, it was delicious. It was chicken and rice with veggies, a bread roll and some salad. I ate, finished dinner and settled down to sleep. I slept until it was about 2:30 EST, when all of a sudden I was woken up by the man next to me offering me a breakfast box. I was like “what? It is too early for breakfast.” But the sun was shining bright and was much later the local time. In fact we were an hour out from landing in Poland. I took some time to wake up, and then opens my box. It just happened to be a local NY yogurt company and my favorite flavor, strawberry banana. There was also fresh fruit and an orange/cranberry muffin. I saved that for later. When we got off the plane we went through a security checkpoint before heading to our gate. We had to scan our plane ticket for 30 mins free wifi. The next flight I sat next to a Bulgarian man who once lived in Queens,NY. I slept for almost he entire flight, being woken by the flight attendant telling me to put my seat up to prepare for landing. When we got off the plane we went through customs and got our passport stamped and picked up our packs and headed to the entrance. It has been an incredible journey so far and I can’t wait to have more things to share with all of you. Please continue to pray for this trip I am on and for my squad as we prepare to go out minster to the world.
