I am writing this entry in Heathrow Aiport.Yes...I am sitting at the arrivals terminal behind a Costa coffee,next to a sad Christmas tree on my laptop.
For those of you who don't know,on Dec 17th,London began its epic fail.It began with snow.5 cm of snow.I know...KILLER.My flight to Salzburg was canceled and I was devastated.I spent the night with the help of my friends trying to figure out how to get there,eventually giving up on Austria altogether and booking a bus to Scotland.
Then came the next day.More snow...that stopped in the afternoon.But the damage was done.London has crumbled.I spent all day in front of the computer only to find out my bus was canceled.But that was nothing compared to my friends who tried to leave for the U.S. on Saturday.They ended up stuck on planes for 6 hours...flights canceled...thousands of people sleeping in Heathrow...barely any blankets...barely any food vouchers or water.It was like a war zone.Worst of all,there was no information.
It only continued through Sunday and Monday.Terminals got so full that no one was being allowed in.People were trapped.Anyone whose flight was canceled was disregarded.People who had flights on the 18th or 19th couldn't get flights until the 25th or 26th.
Roads closed.Yesterday,trains suddenly got hit hard.Eurostar had a 6 hour line of people waiting out in the cold at King's Cross Station.They canceled many trains today.
And then today,I finally experienced the nightmare.I woke up after only 3 1/2 hours of sleep,making sure I could get to Heathrow by 7:30 AM.My flight was not canceled.I got into departures and it was chaos.They set up check points at the front of the terminal so no one could get to the desks.There was a giant mass of people - pushing,worried,yelling.Then once you made it through the checkpoint you were sent....OUTSIDE.TO.A.TENT.The tent was warmer than the actual outside but not by much.There were no chairs.Just people waiting.And waiting.Every so often an airport worker would come in and announce a flight and some people would leave.One man had shown up at 8 AM for his 6 PM flight and was told he wouldn't be able to get inside until 5 PM.He had 7 hours in the cold ahead.It was horrible.
But even worse was when I suddenly looked in a hidden corner of my tent and found a giant piece of paper with my flight number and the word 'CANCELED' scribbled in 5 year old's handwriting.I approached a worker and asked about he and he told me the flight was still on.When I brought him over to the sign he responded with,"Oh...I guess you're right".I was simply given a number of Lufthansa and sent on my way.I begged to get somewhere to use wifi but was told I was not allowed in the Departures Terminal.I pleaded and then burst into tears infront of a worker who took pity on me and brought me to the arrivals terminal where I could use the wifi.
And so here I am.I spent 30 pounds calling the Lufthansa number where I was sometimes not connected,sometimes put on hold,sometimes hung up on,and sometimes transferred to numbers of people who were not even connected to Lufthansa (my favorite story: being connected to Irish Information Services where upon getting an answer I asked,"Is this Lufthansa?" and was met with the response,"Um....no")
I am exhausted,frustrated,and overall numb.It's maddening not being able to do ANYTHING.Airport workers are trying their best but it's horrible to see how people are being treated.It has been FIVE days....for FIVE cm of snow.The fact that Heathrow and the government are making excuses is the worst.First off,this is not alot of snow.In the U.S,this would never happen.But yes...we all understand...bad weather DOES happen.The fact that the government/Heathrow think this is the only reason people are upset is crazy.People are upset that they can't make it out for Christmas...but also that:
a) There is no visible progress being made.
b) They are being given no information
c) They are being ignored
d) They are being treated like animals
Bad weather happens.But disregard for human beings should not.It is a horrible situation and for all Americans,it has left a bad taste in our mouths.I love London.I've had an amazing time.But this is why I don't think I could ever leave here long term.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
The Beginning of the End
My time in London is coming to an end.
Two weeks ago and even at the beginning of this week,I was thinking about it but it really hasn't set in until now.I feel like there are so many adventures left to have with my London friends and now as it is the beginning of the end,I feel an overwhelming sadness and disbelief.
This week has been full of work for me.Having barely any work during the semester seems awesome until you have four 4,000 word essays at the end.4,000 words is a lot more than you think it is.
In between all this work though I have had little moments of realizing how much I'm going to miss London.Last week I went ice skating with friends at the Natural History Museum and it was spectacular,beautiful,and just fun (student night means chugging your free beer right before you skate so you don't waste your skating time!).I also said goodbye to one of my very very good friends after going to see the Nutcracker and the gorgeous English National Opera.We were also forced to say goodbye to one of my favorite pubs,The Princess Louise.
This weekend was my last true London weekend (any other remaining weekend,I'll be in another country or flying home) and it was full of joy: introducing friends to Rocky Horror Picture Show,making friends with the guy at the liquor store,a Goodbye Party at a flat I don't even live at (thrown by one of my friend's lovely British flatmates),going out to a big London nightclub I had missed for a friend's birthday,and finishing with British Chinese food while watching the British Jersey Shore (no joke - amazing).
This week I had no classes but was up to my eyeballs in work.Still,I feel like suddenly the fact that I'm leaving is hitting me...at random small moments.I walked through Borough Market to pick up my favorite fudge for my hallmates as a goodbye present and realized how the place has become part of my daily life - I stop by once a week if not more.I spent 2 days in my favorite coffee shop Cafe Amano and realized I am a regular; one barista gives me free things (though I'm pretty sure he's continuously trying to pick me up).I went to my favorite pancake place My Old Dutch with my friends for our last Pancake Night and the woman recognized and commented on how we come every week.I went out tonight with the biggest group of people ever to Brick Lane,an long street in London with TONS of Indian places for authentic Chicken Madras,good American and British friends,and a hipster-ish bar afterward that may or may not have been having a gay night.And it was just good.These are moments I take for granted because I take the feeling of just plain quiet peace and happiness for granted.
Tomorrow is Friday and tomorrow night is a Goodbye London Dinner which I literally just organized this morning.I refuse to admit it's goodbye though.I still feel like next week I'm going to have adventures in London with my friends even though all but two of them will be gone by the time I get back from my non-London adventures.It really can't be over,CAN IT?!
At the same time,I am super excited about Salzburg,Vienna,and Sweden.I am excited to travel alone (but get the company of an old friend in Vienna and family in Sweden).It comes at a nice time because I will be forced not to sit around and mope about how sad I am about the end being near.
I go home in two weeks.One of those weeks will be spent in other countries.Tonight at our massive Indian dinner,many of the Brits kept asking me if I was excited to be going home.It was a hard question to answer and I did struggle.I am excited to see family and friends,my lovely NYC,and my home away from home Wesleyan.But London has become a home away from home as well and hey,it's always sad to leave home,isn't it?
:(
Two weeks ago and even at the beginning of this week,I was thinking about it but it really hasn't set in until now.I feel like there are so many adventures left to have with my London friends and now as it is the beginning of the end,I feel an overwhelming sadness and disbelief.
This week has been full of work for me.Having barely any work during the semester seems awesome until you have four 4,000 word essays at the end.4,000 words is a lot more than you think it is.
In between all this work though I have had little moments of realizing how much I'm going to miss London.Last week I went ice skating with friends at the Natural History Museum and it was spectacular,beautiful,and just fun (student night means chugging your free beer right before you skate so you don't waste your skating time!).I also said goodbye to one of my very very good friends after going to see the Nutcracker and the gorgeous English National Opera.We were also forced to say goodbye to one of my favorite pubs,The Princess Louise.
This weekend was my last true London weekend (any other remaining weekend,I'll be in another country or flying home) and it was full of joy: introducing friends to Rocky Horror Picture Show,making friends with the guy at the liquor store,a Goodbye Party at a flat I don't even live at (thrown by one of my friend's lovely British flatmates),going out to a big London nightclub I had missed for a friend's birthday,and finishing with British Chinese food while watching the British Jersey Shore (no joke - amazing).
This week I had no classes but was up to my eyeballs in work.Still,I feel like suddenly the fact that I'm leaving is hitting me...at random small moments.I walked through Borough Market to pick up my favorite fudge for my hallmates as a goodbye present and realized how the place has become part of my daily life - I stop by once a week if not more.I spent 2 days in my favorite coffee shop Cafe Amano and realized I am a regular; one barista gives me free things (though I'm pretty sure he's continuously trying to pick me up).I went to my favorite pancake place My Old Dutch with my friends for our last Pancake Night and the woman recognized and commented on how we come every week.I went out tonight with the biggest group of people ever to Brick Lane,an long street in London with TONS of Indian places for authentic Chicken Madras,good American and British friends,and a hipster-ish bar afterward that may or may not have been having a gay night.And it was just good.These are moments I take for granted because I take the feeling of just plain quiet peace and happiness for granted.
Tomorrow is Friday and tomorrow night is a Goodbye London Dinner which I literally just organized this morning.I refuse to admit it's goodbye though.I still feel like next week I'm going to have adventures in London with my friends even though all but two of them will be gone by the time I get back from my non-London adventures.It really can't be over,CAN IT?!
At the same time,I am super excited about Salzburg,Vienna,and Sweden.I am excited to travel alone (but get the company of an old friend in Vienna and family in Sweden).It comes at a nice time because I will be forced not to sit around and mope about how sad I am about the end being near.
I go home in two weeks.One of those weeks will be spent in other countries.Tonight at our massive Indian dinner,many of the Brits kept asking me if I was excited to be going home.It was a hard question to answer and I did struggle.I am excited to see family and friends,my lovely NYC,and my home away from home Wesleyan.But London has become a home away from home as well and hey,it's always sad to leave home,isn't it?
:(
Monday, December 6, 2010
Plans For The Future
So I still need to do a post about Madrid but since I just got my final travel plans figured out,I thought I would them...I really don't have much time left and here's what I'll be doing with the rest of my time:
Dec 6th - 12th --> Last real school week in London; Ice skating,Christmas shopping; celebrating two birthdays and one goodbye party; last real London weekend!
Dec 13th - 17th --> "Essay Consultation" week; extreme paper writing; saying goodbye to friends
Dec 18th --> At 7:15,I fly out of London to Salzburg,Austria - home of the Sound of Music and apparently Austria's "crown jewel" - I get in at 10:10 AM and will spend the day sightseeing until my 6:10 train to Vienna.At around 9:00 PM,I arrive in Vienna where I will meet up with my old Columbia friend,who is traveling with two of her friends from Oxford.
Dec 19th --> Fun in Vienna!
Dec 20th --> Another day of fun in Vienna; fly out of Vienna back to London at 8:44 PM,arriving at 10:22 PM and head home to a (mostly) empty hall.
Dec 21st --> After a good night sleep,leave for Stockholm,Sweden for a 11:45 AM flight; hour and a half connection in Frankfurt,Germany and then arrive in Stockholm at 6:00 PM; picked up by my cousin and staying at his house 30 min outside of Stockholm.
Dec 22nd --> Sightseeing day in Stockholm!
Dec 23rd --> Drive with my cousin and his family up to his wife's parent's house 20 min north of Uppsala,Sweden; begin packed house (with mostly people I don't know haha) Christmas celebrations!!!
Dec 24th --> Swedish Christmas!!!
Dec 25h --> Soak up last bits of Sweden before leaving for London at 4:05 PM; 2hr connection in Zurich,Switzerland; arrive back in London at 9:15 and return to a completely empty dorm.
Dec 26th - 30th --> Last days in London to do everything I haven't done,including last museum trips,potentially more paper works,and maybe a few day trips outside of London; general sadness
Dec 31st --> Fly back to NYC on 4:05 PM flight; celebrate NYE; STUDY ABROAD IS OVER
It's amazing how in 24 days I will be home.I have been planning this semester for years and now I feel so many things as it ends.I know I'm going to experience some post study abroad blues when I return home (even though I am looking forward to seeing everyone again).Basically,I can't emphasize enough how much everyone should go abroad! It's been an amazing semester and having some active traveling plans before I actually leave will help me not focus on how I will miss it.
I leave you with...a list of places I (will) have visited while here:
Stonehenge
Bath
Oxford
Windsor
Eton
Cotswolds
Amsterdam
Bruges
Brussels
Rome
Paris
Madrid
Salzburg
Vienna
Stockholm
Uppsala
(and i guess technically Frankfurt and Zurich but I'm not counting airports lol)
LONDON
Dec 6th - 12th --> Last real school week in London; Ice skating,Christmas shopping; celebrating two birthdays and one goodbye party; last real London weekend!
Dec 13th - 17th --> "Essay Consultation" week; extreme paper writing; saying goodbye to friends
Dec 18th --> At 7:15,I fly out of London to Salzburg,Austria - home of the Sound of Music and apparently Austria's "crown jewel" - I get in at 10:10 AM and will spend the day sightseeing until my 6:10 train to Vienna.At around 9:00 PM,I arrive in Vienna where I will meet up with my old Columbia friend,who is traveling with two of her friends from Oxford.
Dec 19th --> Fun in Vienna!
Dec 20th --> Another day of fun in Vienna; fly out of Vienna back to London at 8:44 PM,arriving at 10:22 PM and head home to a (mostly) empty hall.
Dec 21st --> After a good night sleep,leave for Stockholm,Sweden for a 11:45 AM flight; hour and a half connection in Frankfurt,Germany and then arrive in Stockholm at 6:00 PM; picked up by my cousin and staying at his house 30 min outside of Stockholm.
Dec 22nd --> Sightseeing day in Stockholm!
Dec 23rd --> Drive with my cousin and his family up to his wife's parent's house 20 min north of Uppsala,Sweden; begin packed house (with mostly people I don't know haha) Christmas celebrations!!!
Dec 24th --> Swedish Christmas!!!
Dec 25h --> Soak up last bits of Sweden before leaving for London at 4:05 PM; 2hr connection in Zurich,Switzerland; arrive back in London at 9:15 and return to a completely empty dorm.
Dec 26th - 30th --> Last days in London to do everything I haven't done,including last museum trips,potentially more paper works,and maybe a few day trips outside of London; general sadness
Dec 31st --> Fly back to NYC on 4:05 PM flight; celebrate NYE; STUDY ABROAD IS OVER
It's amazing how in 24 days I will be home.I have been planning this semester for years and now I feel so many things as it ends.I know I'm going to experience some post study abroad blues when I return home (even though I am looking forward to seeing everyone again).Basically,I can't emphasize enough how much everyone should go abroad! It's been an amazing semester and having some active traveling plans before I actually leave will help me not focus on how I will miss it.
I leave you with...a list of places I (will) have visited while here:
Stonehenge
Bath
Oxford
Windsor
Eton
Cotswolds
Amsterdam
Bruges
Brussels
Rome
Paris
Madrid
Salzburg
Vienna
Stockholm
Uppsala
(and i guess technically Frankfurt and Zurich but I'm not counting airports lol)
LONDON
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