Like my title? Yep, I thought it was very suitable. A nice, young man sent an audio version of this Dr. Seuss’ classic to me this morning, before my three-week adventure commenced. I definitely thought it was fitting, and so I thought I’d share it with you! Believe it or not, it’s already calmed me down in the numerous times I’ve gotten worked up. Yep, only about 12 hours into my journey, and I’ve already got stories to tell.
Let’s see. Firstly, I woke up this morning, and it was POURING. Thanks a lot, Wales. You always know when to rain on someone’s parade. So, after packing up my final items and straightening up my room (of course, I couldn’t leave it a mess), I decided to call a cab. Problem was, I only had five pounds, in change.
Well, it was a good thing I called the taxi company I had stored in my phone; the number I had saved since the first night I arrived in Wales. This driver was the one that picked me up from the train station and was just SO nice and gave me all kinds of tips and what not, I think I told you about him. Yah, well, he was the one to pick me up this time. I told him, right off the bat, that I only had five pounds on me and that he could just drop me off wherever it got me. However, he insisted that I not worry about the extra 65 pence and took me all the way to the train station. What a nice guy!
So yah, I guess that wasn’t a real setback, but what happened next was:
I had booked my train ticket to Bristol, England (where I flew out of) in advance. After receiving my tickets, I looked up departing times on the website, and specifically remember choosing the departing time I did because of the least transfers (where you actually have to get off the train and load back up onto another one). Well, let’s just say it was a miracle that the conductor asked to see my ticket. I handed it to him, finding it a bit strange, because a). he was a new conductor, and b). I had not had to show my ticket at any other station. He looked at my ticket and then asked me, “and where are you going?” I replied with, “Bristol-Temple Meads,” and he said, “I think you’re aboard the wrong train.”
My first thought was NO! I thought I had boarded the completely wrong train to begin with, like, from Carmarthen. But I soon found out that I should have switched at the station we had just left. Phew. I could handle that. However, I was still so embarrassed. You know that saying, one’s ears are “red with embarrassment,” (or, at least, I think that’s a saying)? Yah, my ears were BURNING. Good thing the conductor was nice, or I probably would have started crying right there. But he just suggested that I get off at the next station. I’d have to wait a half hour until the next train to take me back a station, but if I just tell the conductor on that train, I wouldn’t have to pay for the ticket in between stations. Ahhhh.. Mark another one up for Welsh hospitality. To be honest, in retrospect, I now remember seeing that there was 1 change for this route, but 2 for the others. I don’t know why, but I must have just assumed the “1” stood for one train, not one stop. Woops.
But I finally did make it to Bristol. Thaaaaank goodness. Yep, I made it there and set out right away to find a nearby café with free Wi-Fi, and to my surprise, found one about 100m from the station. Can’t beat that! Well, I guess I could have. I walked in there and had already ordered a drink, when the barista told me that they were closing in 25 minutes. Dang. Welcome to Britain, where the warm hospitality comes to an end, I guess. But I took advantage of those 25 minutes anyhow, and Skyped with some key people (sorry mom, I would have emailed/Facebooked you, except only my Skype was working!) And then decided to just go ahead and head to the airport once they closed.
So, my initial idea of arriving in Bristol, finding a coffee shop with free wi-fi access and hanging out until 9pm or so, and then taking the shuttle to the airport and just sleeping, definitely didn’t go as planned... I definitely arrived at the airport a little past five o’clock. Blahh.. I’ve kinda been a bit bored. Let me tell you, sleeping in the airport is not all that it’s hyped up to be. But man, am I much better at writing these things when I don’t have internet access to distract me. Ha ha ha! Currently, I’ve staked out a spot right next to the bathroom… a nice, four-seat bench near an outlet, that no one thought of claiming. Perrrrrfect! I’ve been thinking about taking a little nap, but I just have so many valuable things with me, that I would totally kick myself if it were to get stolen, because the Lord knows I wouldn’t wake up, even if someone accidentally punched me in the face while stealing my bag. So, I’ve been doing other things to keep myself awake. Wanna hear? Sure you do:
Let’s see . . .
1). I’ve read about 50 pages or so of my book that I’ve brought from home, but haven’t been reading.
2). I tried to work on my homework, I swear, I did. But my computer decided to be neat and not save it… I mean, I’ve figured it out, but I’m just taking it as a sign from God that he doesn’t want me to work while on vacation.
3). I’ve played the laaaaaame games on my computer… mainly tic-tac-toe and collect four. I won both, on accident.
4). I started making a real cool song in GarageBand, but got bored with that realllll quick.
5). I’ve listened to music and have attempted to type the lyrics as I listen. Turns out, I’m not all that fast of a typer.
6). I’ve completely explored my computer. I found a few, new things I never knew I had… I love when that happens!
7). I’ve changed the background on my desktop about 17 times.
8). I’ve written this SUPER long blog entry.
8.5). And now, after I finish this, I’ll probably try to make a numbered list of all the countries I can think of.. sounds like it will keep me busy for a while. Ha!
I do hear a movie somewhere. Let me just tell you how angry I am that I didn’t think to bring any movies. How could I be so dense!? I should have at least popped one into my computer, so that it wouldn’t be taking up any room. DUH. Perhaps I’ll follow the noise, and hunt it down.., lurk in the shadows and watch it over someone’s shoulder. Okay, just kidding, I’m not that creepy, but I was seriously considering asking one of the baggage claim guys, who I KNOW for a fact, has a t.v. behind the counter, if I could keep him company and watch too. But decided not to…
However, back to this whole Dr. Seuss thing. It saved me a few times today. Whenever I found myself at a bump in the road, I just thought about moral of the story… no adventure in life is an adventure if you don’t have obstacles that test your strength along the way. You’ve just got to accept that they’ll happen and either push through them, or make the best of them! Hey, if I hadn’t missed my station on the way to Bristol with plenty of time, perhaps I would have missed a station that I couldn’t have afforded to miss, like when Lacey and I are in Europe. Or, if that coffee shop hadn’t closed early, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to sit and do all these wonderful things in the airport whilst being bored out of my mind! Ha ha ha!
Welp, only about three hours to go before I can even start thinking of packing up camp and attempting to locate my check-in gate. Espana, aqui voy! (that’s terribly translated and literally means, Spain, here I come!) Hopefully, my three years of Spanish in high school, mixed in with a semester’s worth of Italian in college will get me through the week! I will be sure to keep you updated on the subject! Until next time!
Alright, I lied. I’m still awake and I’ve just discovered a warmer part of the airport with a television! Too bad I only found it two hours too late. Crack me up, it was just down the hall from my last camp out spot.. and along the way there are people scattered everywhere. Guess I wasn’t the only one with the bright idea of sleeping here. It’s now 3 o’clock in the morning… and I’m still going strong. Well, kinda. I laid down for an hour an a half or so… never quite falling asleep… but just “watching the back of my eyelids,” as dad would say. Whew. I’m now sitting right next to Subway, and let me tell you, the more I smell it, the less and less appealing my s’mores poptarts are sounding. Ha. Oh well, just an hour more, I will survive. Okay, this time for real. Until next time!
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