I'm here! After 4 flights and about 30 hours I was half dead, but I made it to my new home. This was the worst traveling experience I have ever had. It started at around 5am on september 10th after sleeping for 2 hours that night. Jessica and Katie got up along with me to make me breakfeast and say good bye! they are the sweetest (and Ariel i love you too even though you stayed in bed, I would've done the same :) Phillip drove me to the airport and after clearing up some problems (no thanks to cheaptickets.com) I had to weed 20 lbs of stuff out of my incredibly overpacked suitcase. Some things I had to leave behind: conditioner, bodywash, watercolor pencils, goldfish crackers, sweatpants, downy wrinkle release, hairdryer... obviously nothing I can't live without, although I should probably buy some soap. At around 7:30 I boarded my plane for Chicago carrying a huge backpack, pillow, and purse (yes I pushed the limits on the carry on rule) When I got on the plane I couldn't even lift my backpack to put it in the overhead compartment. This is when I knew I was in trouble. I slept the entire flight and when I got to Chicago I had a really fun time finding my next gate. After going through security again and finding my gate I was found out there were no restaurants inside the international terminal and had to eat trail mix for lunch.
While waiting for my flight I opened the package that katie sent me off with and It included a beautiful copy of Jane Eyre and a personalized survival guide of norway that she made me. I then started crying for the first of many times. I realized all of the wonderful loving people I was leaving behind for this mysterious new journey. I began praying for the Lord to give me strength for the rest of my journey. I seriously just wanted to turn around and go home at this point. I talked to Phil for the last time before my flight left and cried all the way through take off. I think the older couple sitting next to me felt sorry for me and they were really nice to me for the rest of the flight. I only slept about 1 hour of the 8 I was on the plane. They served us cold tomato and cheese sandwiches for breakfast so I guess that woke me up.
When I got to the airport in Stockholm I couldn't believe my eyes. It was the most incredible airport I have ever been to, like a glorified version of Ikea. That definitely helped me feel comfortable. I sat down in a chair that I think i saw in an art museum once and tried to sleep but failed. The flight to Oslo was about 45 minutes and the normally complimentary drinks cost about $5 usd! I got to Oslo feeling like I was about to pass out. I picked up my bags and went through customs. When checking in my bags again the man at the counter took pity on me and let me check my backpack for half price, only $40. Best $40 I've ever spent. I bought a $5 orange juice and still felt sick and realized I hadn't eaten anything since the cold breakfast sandwich on the flight from Chicago. I bought the cheapest thing I could find, a $20 baguette sandwich and water. I forced myself to eat half of the sandwich but really had no appetite. I fell asleep as soon as I boarded my flight to Alesund and slept the entire way. I woke up right as we descended through the clouds and felt like I was waking up into a dream. What I saw out the window was the most beautiful thing I have ever witnessed in my life. I thought I died and woke up in heaven!
While picking up my luggage, I met up with 3 other girls headed to the same place as me and somehow we missed the last bus of the evening. We tried calling the base but couldn't get ahold of anyone. We got kicked out of the airport because it closed. The man closing up called a taxi for us and we stood outside in the darkness and the rain of a completely silent airport for about 20 minutes. We began to feel worried so we prayed for safety and shortly after a "maxitaxi" arrived. $100 later we arrived at the base to some of the wonderful staff member. They fed us cereal and showed us our rooms. I'm living with 2 other girls, one from canada one from norway. They are both in the fine art track with me. They both share a bunk bed and somehow I scored the loft area all to myself! I am very happy about that. I slept for about twelve hours last night and woke up for lunch. There are so many wonderful people here that I am so excited to get to know! We have the opening tonight at 9 and everyone will have arrived by then. I am so excited for the upcoming weeks. A couple things we get to do are a wilderness hike/camping trip in Alesund and the YWAM 50th anniversary celebration in Sweden! Thank you all for your prayers. I really fell like the worst is over. I just have to get over my jet lag and culture shock now. Oh, and my homesickness!
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