Into the Grey

Whew!  Made it!

After working the fair for nearly 14 straight days, I didn't really realize how unprepared I was to actually leave.  One day to pack and get used the fact that I wouldn't be home for five months wasn't quite enough.

The flight wasn't too bad.  Tried British Airways for the first time, and it wasn't horrible.  They actually have awesome headrests that wing out so you can rest your head against them on the side.  I haven't decided if most other aircrafts I've been on just didn't have these wings, or if I've just been very unobservant.  But it's definitely worth it in regard to my last long flight.  They've got personalized screens where you can choose the movies and pause them, which is also definitely an improvement.

They gave us free headphones at least, the kind that have big pads that go over your ears and then link over your head, which was nice because the earbud ones can start to ache after five hours in my ears.  But even at the smallest setting, they were way too big.  I can't image what the kids do with them, because I could fit my whole wrist between my head and the band, so they had to be way to big for them as well.  So they were actually kind of worthless, but it was a nice thought.  At least they took them back at the end of the flight so I didn't have to toss them.

They almost bypassed me for free wine with the meal, but I couldn't have that.  And I remembered that cranberry juice looks prettier in clear cups than it tastes.  Bleh.

I seriously think I got through customs faster than any Europeans.  I was sure I wasn't the only American on the flight, but there was no line so I just walked up to one of the agents.  I think she asked me three questions total, the last of which was, "What does this stamp mean?" and I had to explain it was from when I'd done my semester abroad in the UK.  Wouldn't that make it their own stamp?  But I didn't want to get kicked out of the country that quickly, so I didn't ask.  And they didn't actually ask me how I was planning on leaving or anything, either, so they obviously don't care if I ever leave.  ;)

Steve was waiting to whisk me away to Northampton with a small bottle of rose wine, which I'm convinced helped to drive away the traditional English grey rain clouds that greeted me upon exiting the airport.  And it worked!  Had a lovely sunset as I tried (to various degrees of success) not to pick up Steve's accent immediately and to stick to my fluctuating American.  We'll see how long I succeed!