In 28 hours, I will be on a trans-atlantic flight.
I actually really dislike traveling. Not that I don't like going to different places, or being away from home (wherever that is), but going through airport security is such a uniquely unpleasant experience that I've begun to dread it. Watching TSA officials scrutinize my suitcases (which really do contain nothing but clothing) as if there were dangerous explosives contained inside, standing in front of enough first-aid equipment to fill half an emergency room as if I really meant them harm, makes me feel like a criminal, and actually quite vulnerable. We'll just skip the GAWS dissection of this situation...
Also, I'm only allowed to take on one carry-on and a "purse." Since I'm taking my violin, which I'm certainly not checking, I have to pack other things I want with me in some bag that can serve as a purse. I have a vision of me carrying an overstuffed tote bag, arguing with the flight attendants that it really is my purse. I've always been destined to become a bag lady.
I was originally scheduled to fly from Madison to Chicago, and then from Chicago to Stockholm, but because of weather and the fact that I only had a 2-hour layover to begin with, my mom's driving me to Chicago so I can take the flight directly from there, and can have all the time I want to go through customs. I hope that customs will be an easier process because I have a visa (not that it was that difficult to begin with).
I've decided to try to pack really lightly, so I think I'll go back and repack my whole big suitcase. Hopefully it'll all fit in one bag (sort of a difficult task, with the winter coat and all).
I think it's interesting that instead of worrying about all of these travel things, my defense mechanism is to just be annoyed about them. This probably represents how far I've come in a year.
Also, I'm only allowed to take on one carry-on and a "purse." Since I'm taking my violin, which I'm certainly not checking, I have to pack other things I want with me in some bag that can serve as a purse. I have a vision of me carrying an overstuffed tote bag, arguing with the flight attendants that it really is my purse. I've always been destined to become a bag lady.
I was originally scheduled to fly from Madison to Chicago, and then from Chicago to Stockholm, but because of weather and the fact that I only had a 2-hour layover to begin with, my mom's driving me to Chicago so I can take the flight directly from there, and can have all the time I want to go through customs. I hope that customs will be an easier process because I have a visa (not that it was that difficult to begin with).
I've decided to try to pack really lightly, so I think I'll go back and repack my whole big suitcase. Hopefully it'll all fit in one bag (sort of a difficult task, with the winter coat and all).
I think it's interesting that instead of worrying about all of these travel things, my defense mechanism is to just be annoyed about them. This probably represents how far I've come in a year.