No turning back...

I told you I’ll write about my experience flying international. In my previous article I said that people will tell you that it won’t be that bad. Once you’ve done it you will see that it was a breeze. Well. To comment on that, it wasn’t all that bad. But it wasn’t great either.

The whole purpose of this blog is to help people, and myself, get out of our comfort zones. When you do hear my stories, please keep in mind that I’m still struggling with it. Deciding to tour the UK almost alone is a first step.

We came to the O.R Thambo Airport in Johannesburg, SA, and found my check in point (with the help of my boyfriend – basically a seasoned traveller). He helped me step by step through everything. And it wasn’t that difficult really. Everything seemed very haunting, because although I have been at the airport like ten times before, I never really pictured me going through the gates. It was still scary. And actually leaving the one anchor I had throughout this behind, letting go of his hand, was harder than I expected it to be. But the moment I left his hand, I knew that I couldn’t stop now. That I need to move forward. It gave me the confidence and motivation to go on alone.

Saying goodbye was really the most difficult part in the whole departure. Luckily instinct steps in once you’re on your own. And it makes you feel empowered.

Ok. So now you’re on the plane and you are either very emotional (putting on a sad movie to have an excuse to cry), or you are coping. I was coping. And luckily I had a window seat –YAY- and no one sitting next to me on both flights! Which is more comfortable than being stuffed in between people. So my flight wasn’t exactly something to complain about…let’s just hope I’ll be as lucky the second time around.

Landing in another country you are used to, is different. People speak fast! And most of the time they don’t pronounce their words well. So you have to guess what they mean by looking at their body language. Or ask them to speak slower. Haha the cabin crew

member asked me to pull up my window cover, and I couldn’t understand a word he said. It was kind of embarrassing.

Flying over the London skyline is an exhilarating feeling. Although I had all of these mixed feelings running through me, I felt alive. And excited. Empowered.

Here I am, in a new country, about to conquer it all!