The LAST Post

 

So yesterday was probably the saddest day of my life. I woke up and had breakfast with Madame for the last time. I wasn’t very hungry though so I didn’t end up eating much. I was really upset and it was still just surreal. It has always been surreal but then it was really surreal. When I woke up, Madame called down to see if Paul was still home and wanted to say bye like the plan was. But he had already left for school because he had been crying all last night. It was really sad. He had been calling me his big sister all last night and I was almost crying just then. Then, I packed my backpack and changed before putting everything away.  Beebow was oddly hanging out next to me. And Madame and I were being sad. But then too soon it was time to leave.  Madame and I double teamed taking my bags downstairs.

After we got the bags downstairs we pulled the car out of the garage and threw them in the car. Then we left! We didn't get very far though because as soon as we got to Cours Sextius, we got in a little car accident. The car I front of us slammed the breaks so we did too and then the car behind us hit us. The guy in front then moved into the bus lane, backed up a hundred feet and parked his car in a parking spot and left. We pulled over and got out and then the other driver got out. They weren’t mad at each other because they were like well it was that other guys fault. The other car didn't look like it was damaged and I didn't look at ours but Jean-Claude didn't say anything about it being damaged. He got back in and they talked about how if we had really been in a wreck I would have to miss my flight or take a taxi. I jokingly said oh darn then I would have to stay here. Too bad.  We drove to the airport with no problems and parked in the parking thing. We got a baggage cart because my bags were so heavy. When we got in and found my check in gate, there were a ton of people in line. Luckily I saw LaSia and Cassandra and my host mom was like let's go join them! So we sort of cut the line a bit. But I was still the last one checked in. The line split in three and in mine there were two girls from school which I already didn't like.

They were at the counter messing with bags. They each had three bags and rather than weighing them and then moving out of the way to try and rearrange things they decided that everyone else had to wait while they figure out what to move because they didn't want to pay more for heavy baggage. But they were not being aware of how everyone else had to get their stuff done too. It was really stupid. My host mom was complaining to people around us but they were all complaining too. The girls on top of that were not being nice to the lady at the desk so that was pretty annoying to watch. So the lines eventually started moving and when I got to the counter we threw the bags up and she was like you are going to have to pay extra for an extra bag and one being overweight. I said okay here is my card. So then I ran over to the other deck to pay for it. I was at 31kg and 18kg. I didn't really care though because I wanted everything that I brought so it wasn't like I was just going to not pay for it. And I had zero more space so it was just how it was. It was 76 Euros which was less than I was thinking that it would be so that was kind of cool.

Then from there I had to go join the security line which meant that Madame couldn't come with me and it was time for me to say goodbye. I am crying again just thinking about that moment. She gave me a real hug. Three times and bisoused me about nine. It was so sad. I started crying and she started crying and then as I watched her leave she kept turning around and waving. It was so hard to say goodbye. Even if I know this isn't the last time that I will see her. That doesn't make it any easier. She has been such a big part of my everyday life. It's going to be hard not talking to her every day. I'm still crying about it. Man. I will never forget that moment.

Then there I was standing in the security line bawling my eyes out. Cassandra and LaSia who were a few rows I front of me saw and they got sad that I was sad.

But it really was SO hard. But I had to suck it up and be stressed or else I would have bawled for forever. Some other girls from school saw the whole thing and got sad for me too. It was probably one of the saddest moments in my life. I haven't cried like that in like six months. I tend to be emotionless until the floodgates open and then man do they pour. So I decided to be stressed about my gate closing in ten minutes just so that I could not think about it. Was I really stressed though? No. I mean so what if I missed my flight. Then they have to move me? Or I take a later plane to London? No biggie. But because everyone was delayed getting through baggage it was crazy. The plane we figured would be delayed but I wanted to get through security as quick as I could so that I wouldn't miss it.

I didn't account for there being a second line to check the passports. URGH. SO then eventually I made it through that line and the lady at the end was like oh snap you are going to miss it so she radioed the gate and they held the plane and I got on in the nick of time! So that was insane. When I got on the plane I sat by Cassandra and LaSia and I talked to Cassandra for most of the flight. I also took some sneaky plane shots on her phone while she was in the bathroom.

But then after a while we landed in London and I had to say goodbye to my friends. That was pretty sad but I tried to just not let it get to me. There were a lot of kids from school on that flight so I just sort of ran away so that I didn’t have to deal with goodbyes from anyone else. Then I had to figure out how to get out of the airport which was kind of crazy. I walked a lot and then eventually found how to get out/ a guy who was selling tickets for the train I needed to get on to go to central London!

He bought me a two way ticket and I went and found the train.

That sucker went FAST! It felt faster than the TGV! But I am not sure if it really was. It was relatively empty but it was nice and only took me about fifteen minutes to get into town. From there I followed my mom’s map to get to the hotel which was just up the street from the train station! It was a very strange hotel. The shower didn’t work which I learned later, but they used like real old looking keys and the building was literally a maze to find your room with stairs up and down and such. I eventually found it but getting out was a separate issue. I had to stalk this couple who I thought were leaving but were actually coming in to go to their room. AWKWARD!  Oops. But eventually I got out!

From there I took the U-train (subway) to get to the place where I would start my tour! It was pretty easy to get to once I found the right train. It was nice to be able to ask directions in English but it was hard not to imitate their accent! I don’t know how people who study in London who aren’t like authentically British do it! From there I walked to the bus station where I got put on the top beck of a double decker bus where it was COLD!  Was very glad for my big coat at that point. But the tour was really cool! I got to see The Queens Tower (Big Ben) which I thought was REALLY small! But I also got to see the London Eye and the square where they killed everyone. SO that was fun. I drove by Buckingham Palace and through the streets. It was a nice tour and I feel like it really gave me a taste of London.

 

After the tour was over, I got off and then grabbed a coffee and a muffin from a coffee shop where the two guys thought I had a cute accent. Apparently. And then went back to the U-Train to go to the theatre to see The Light Princess! It was kind of scary trying to get there because the Subways were down for a bit and I couldn’t get there but they eventually got moving so that was a relief.

I eventually found the theatre after a bit of oh whoops wrong way on the walk there. But it was alright. My impression of the theater was that it was less swanky than I thought it would be. You know when you think of the London National Theater you think it is going to be really big and fancy. It felt more like an oldish movie theater. The seats were kind of terrible and the theater itself was pretty small for a theater. But it was still really nice. I got in and then sat by this lady who was clearly drunk. But she was still nice.

I really enjoyed the play! It wasn’t what I was expecting and it was a definite children’s play in that the plot was really obvious and simple. But it was visually really cool because the actress was puppeteered the whole time to be floating. So that was pretty cool. They also had some cool bird and mouse puppets. I really enjoyed it. Afterwards I bought the program. I liked it a lot. As I was leaving my dad shot me a facebook and was like glad you weren’t in the Apollo Theater. And I was like WHAT? But when I went outside the theater I had to go walk by the river and see the bridges and the sights because it was beautiful!

Then I grumbled. Or rather my stomach did so I went to find the subway to go back to my hotel to chill for the night. On the way there I stopped at a convenience store in the station and bought some snacks. I was trying to get above five pounds (₤) worth of food so that I could use my debit card. I still wasn’t at the limit but the guy ran it for me anyways. The train back was really fast and I got back to the hotel at about 10 and my room by 10:10 after getting lost… But then after that I sat down and got online and figured out what Dad was talking about. Apparently, one of the theatres ceilings had collapsed mid performance in London and had injured a lot of people and sent many to the hospital. Sooo YEAH I was thankful I wasn’t at that theater either! I had just driven by it that afternoon though on my tour. So that was kind of scary! I was happy to have not been there and to be able to go home. I tried to stay up really late that night but I ended up getting about three hours of sleep. My plan was to try and sleep on the airplane. From there I went and got through the airport which was really easy. I then got on my plane which I was happy to be on the way home. So my plan to sleep didn’t really pan out very well. I ended up watching movies the whole way to Dallas. I just couldn’t sleep. I was too excited and I think I was really happy to have some time just to myself so I felt like I should take advantage of it. I did try to sleep but it only lasted about twenty minutes and then I was like well this isn’t working. So then from there on I just watched movies on my little seat screen. It was cool though in this airplane it had usb chargers ports and outlets and such! It was cool! They didn’t have Dr. Pepper on the flight though so I had to wait a bit for that.

Eventually after the very long flight I landed. In Dallas, not at home. UGH. So from there I had to uncheck and recheck my bag and then also go through passport security which was super cool and easy in the states because they have these like machines that you use and it takes your picture. There weren’t very many US citizens on my flight so my line went super fast, as in there wasn’t one. So that was nice. I then went and got myself a very expensive haircut. The lady was a typical Texas Woman and wanted to puff up my hair so I had to keep telling her no. But then eventually it was still a bit not my style. But it was to look nice when I got home and because my shower at the hotel the night before didn’t work it was worth the wash.

I also bought myself a Starbucks before taking the shuttle train back to my terminal to get on my last flight. I was pretty exhausted at this point. 3 hours sleep for over 32 hours… Yeah. I wouldn’t really recommend it! So eventually I got on my last plane (hopefully for a while) (except I want to go back already) and then I heard we were being delayed for the catering cart to get on. I was like yep whatever and fell asleep. I woke up not when we took off but when they were doing beverage service so that just shows that I was pretty tired to skip all those bumps on take off! I stayed up for about 20 minutes to drink my coke and then fell back asleep until we were flying over Beaverton and about to land. I was pretty excited to say the least.

 I pretty much ran off the plane. I speed walked through the airport and almost took out some kid who was running around without a parent (oops.). But then I got through the crowd and turned the corner and was looking and looking and then I heard “Kacy!” And there was Thad! I pretty much jumped on him because I was so happy to see him. He had brought me roses. But I was too busy hugging him and planting one on him that I didn’t really notice. Then of course I hugged my mom and Dad and we headed to get my bags. I was really happy to see everyone and be home. I was all smiles. Dad criticized me for my heavy bags and I laughed and we went to the car. I was really glad to be home. Really glad. When we got to Scappoose Thad and I jumped in his car and headed home. When we got there Kristen was there to welcome me in! That was fun and cool to see her. She would have come in the car but there wasn’t really room with all my stuff.

When I got home I had to email Madame and tell her no I wasn’t in that theater and that I made it home safely. A few days later I got a Christmas card from them and then about a week after I got a New Years card. I sent them a package in return and have sort of been in touch with Madame. I miss them and it has been really strange to be back in the states.

Overall I really wouldn’t change my trip at all. I am so thankful to have had such a wonderful family and been able to go and experience all that I did. I think I got to see a lot of the world that I never truly thought that I would see and now it just inspires me to be able to go back and to see more of the world. I am so happy and thankful for my experience.

 

Thanks for being a part of it with me! :-)