8/24-25/23- My flight

Waiting for the day of my departure felt like forever, and yet it seemed to arrive too soon. Before I knew it I was saying goodbye to my dog and my brother Kallen and heading to the airport with the rest of my family and my grandfather. We arrived, checked my bags, and then made our way to security. It all felt so surreal. When they left me at security I didn't really feel anything special. I think my body doesn't realize how long it will be before I see them again.

I made it through security and went towards my gate. My backpack was so heavy my back was hurting, but finally, I made it to the gate... and realized I was at the wrong one. Luckily I still had a while to wait so I sat for a bit and then had to walk all the way to the correct one. I double-checked that I was at the right place and then I got myself some snacks for the flight.

The plane was huge, with ten seats in each row. I had an aisle seat, which I was happy for because I didn't have to ask anyone to move when I wanted to get up. They gave everyone a pillow and a blanket, and near the end of the flight they gave us pasta! During the flight, I watched a movie and then tried to sleep. It didn't work very well, because I had nowhere to put my head. Finally, the flight was over, and I went through customs in Frankfurt, Germany.

The airport in Frankfurt was a lot more nerve-wracking because everyone only spoke in German. I was pretty sure I was in the right place but I couldn't help but worry that I had it wrong. Multiple times people would think that I was German and try to talk to me, and I just had to smile and nod and hope they weren't asking me something important! But when everyone boarded, I followed, and it went well. The airport had you take a bus to your plane, and I was feeling anxious as the bus drove. I was still a little nervous that somehow I had the wrong flight, and I was also nervous to arrive and meet everyone. I decided to do something I don't do often because I usually forget. I began to whisper the first Bible verses that came to my head that I had memorized over the years. I started to say a verse in Philippians 4 which says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." As I said the verse a couple of times, it helped me not be nervous anymore. I felt peaceful and calm.

Everyone finally got on the second plane, and it took a long time to take off. Once it was off the ground, I played a podcast through my headphones and rested my head against the window. The next thing I knew, I was waking up and realizing that my neck was extremely sore. I wondered how long I had been asleep in order to make it that stiff, and at that moment the speakers in the plane came on notifying everyone that the flight would land in ten minutes. I had accidentally slept through the whole flight! I was very happy that I had fallen asleep (even though I had to restart the podcast because I hadn't heard any of it!), and the plane landed soon after. I got my bags and walked through the gate, and my host parents and some other Rotarians were waiting for me with a banner! They all greeted me smiling and we took a picture. The drive to my new home was a couple of hours, and we spent it talking and getting to know each other.

I am so happy that I made it without any major issues! It was cool to feel capable of being independent, even if it was a bit scary at times.