I woke up on the morning of Wednesday, July 25, with the knowledge that this would be the last time for at least a couple of days that I would get a full night's rest. I grabbed some breakfast and proceeded to make my last-minute preparations for the trip. I showered and packed all of my toiletries. I sorted back and forth between what I wanted to carry on the plane with me and what I wanted to keep in my suitcases. Finally, before leaving, I managed to (finally) activate my international student identity card (after having to fax and e-mail pictures of my driver's license and social security card twice in a week). I got in the car and took one last look at Hermitage as my Aunt Kim drove me to Sheetz to meet up with my ride.
We arrived around 11:05. Ten minutes later, my ride, a rec director and tennis coach from Clarion University named Lori Sabatose, arrived and picked me up. After loading my luggage in her green Subaru, I hugged my Aunt and said goodbye, thanking her for all she had done for me the past few days. That's why she's my favorite Aunt Kim! We drove off, and I knew that that would be the last time in almost two weeks that I would see a family member or former friend.
Lori and drove off toward Tiffin, Ohio, where we were to meet up with half the group at Tiffin University. We talked pretty much the whole time, getting to know each other and discussing what we were planning to see and do in London. The ride was pretty smooth, save for some road construction on I-80 and a stop sign that appeared pretty much out of nowhere and scared the crap out of both of us. Shaken, Lori drove slowly the rest of the way to Tiffin.
Tiffin was a cute, old-fashioned town that looked stuck in the past. Lori and I arrived at the student union early, so we decided to make a quick stop at the new Rec Center. It was by far the newest-looking building on this tiny campus, a campus that reminded me a lot of my dad's alma mater, Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA. After exploring, we came back to the student union, where we explored a little bit and ran into Dr. Bonnie Tiell, the coordinator for our trip. I tried shaking her hand and calling her Dr. Tiell, but she pushed it away, hugged me, and said, "Call me Bonnie!"
We went outside to find a bus called the "Dragon Wagon" (they are the Tiffin Dragons) waiting for us. We met up with a few members of the group, including Chris Wolcott, Allie Quast, and Beth Clark from Tiffin University; Professor Brenda Meese from Worcester College; and Bonnie's daughter, Katie Tiell. After introductions, we loaded up the wagon with our luggage, got a brief safety tutorial from the driver, and drove through the Ohio plains to get to perhaps the world's smallest airport in Toledo.
The drive was smooth and it gave us all an opportunity to get to know each other more. After arriving, we unloaded the bus and made out way toward the airline check-in. Here, we met up with three more students: Katie Scheff from Tiffin University, Rocky Sites from near South Bend, Indiana, and Colleen Oakes from the Chicago area in Illinois. Colleen was having a major issue getting her boarding pass because someone had mistakenly left out an L in her first name (can imagine how frustrating that would be...). She managed to get a pass to Chicago, and we made our way through security toward our gate. After about 45 minutes of waiting, we boarded the plane (one of the smallest I have ever been a passenger in) and we made our way to Chicago.
The flight lasted just 45 minutes, but it was one of the most unique and beautiful flights I have ever been on. The scenery was spectacular. We flew over the plains of the midwest, which were arranged like plaid. Then we flew over Lake Michigan, which looked every bit as majestic as a Great Lake should. Finally, almost out of nowhere, we approached land and flew right past Chicago. I had never been to the Windy City before, but from a distance, it looked exactly as I had always pictured it would. We made a smooth landing, but the place had to wait on other planes before it could park at our exit gate.
The Chicago OHare airport was basically the exact opposite of the Toledo airport. It was enormous & extremely chaotic. We had to go through security again while poor Colleen had to make sure her luggage would go through to London Heathrow. While standing in line for security, there was a McDonalds right next to us that taunted us with its delicious aromas. Unfortunately, our strategy of waiting to get food after going through security backfired because there were no restaurants past the security gates. Chris and I were forced to load up on snack food to eat on the plane.
We boarded the plane, which was about three times the size of our previous plane. We were each given plastic packages with blankets, pillows, and headphones for the trip there. I sat down and braced myself for what I knew was going to be a sleepless night...
After the plane took off, I decided to complete the next part of my personal bible study while watching Chariots of Fire, a fitting movie to watch prior to the games. Early on, the plane experienced a ton of turbulence, but eventually, things evened out. During the film, we were served a late meal. I chose the chicken curry, which just about burned a hole in my mouth and looked like something somebody scraped off the side of the road. I guess what they say about airline food is true.
After the film, I got up, stretched out, brushed my teeth in the lavatory, and returned to my seat to attempt to sleep. I got about an hour of sleep until the morning crept up on us from out of the blue.
Less than two hours to London!!!
We arrived around 11:05. Ten minutes later, my ride, a rec director and tennis coach from Clarion University named Lori Sabatose, arrived and picked me up. After loading my luggage in her green Subaru, I hugged my Aunt and said goodbye, thanking her for all she had done for me the past few days. That's why she's my favorite Aunt Kim! We drove off, and I knew that that would be the last time in almost two weeks that I would see a family member or former friend.
Lori and drove off toward Tiffin, Ohio, where we were to meet up with half the group at Tiffin University. We talked pretty much the whole time, getting to know each other and discussing what we were planning to see and do in London. The ride was pretty smooth, save for some road construction on I-80 and a stop sign that appeared pretty much out of nowhere and scared the crap out of both of us. Shaken, Lori drove slowly the rest of the way to Tiffin.
Tiffin was a cute, old-fashioned town that looked stuck in the past. Lori and I arrived at the student union early, so we decided to make a quick stop at the new Rec Center. It was by far the newest-looking building on this tiny campus, a campus that reminded me a lot of my dad's alma mater, Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA. After exploring, we came back to the student union, where we explored a little bit and ran into Dr. Bonnie Tiell, the coordinator for our trip. I tried shaking her hand and calling her Dr. Tiell, but she pushed it away, hugged me, and said, "Call me Bonnie!"
We went outside to find a bus called the "Dragon Wagon" (they are the Tiffin Dragons) waiting for us. We met up with a few members of the group, including Chris Wolcott, Allie Quast, and Beth Clark from Tiffin University; Professor Brenda Meese from Worcester College; and Bonnie's daughter, Katie Tiell. After introductions, we loaded up the wagon with our luggage, got a brief safety tutorial from the driver, and drove through the Ohio plains to get to perhaps the world's smallest airport in Toledo.
The drive was smooth and it gave us all an opportunity to get to know each other more. After arriving, we unloaded the bus and made out way toward the airline check-in. Here, we met up with three more students: Katie Scheff from Tiffin University, Rocky Sites from near South Bend, Indiana, and Colleen Oakes from the Chicago area in Illinois. Colleen was having a major issue getting her boarding pass because someone had mistakenly left out an L in her first name (can imagine how frustrating that would be...). She managed to get a pass to Chicago, and we made our way through security toward our gate. After about 45 minutes of waiting, we boarded the plane (one of the smallest I have ever been a passenger in) and we made our way to Chicago.
The flight lasted just 45 minutes, but it was one of the most unique and beautiful flights I have ever been on. The scenery was spectacular. We flew over the plains of the midwest, which were arranged like plaid. Then we flew over Lake Michigan, which looked every bit as majestic as a Great Lake should. Finally, almost out of nowhere, we approached land and flew right past Chicago. I had never been to the Windy City before, but from a distance, it looked exactly as I had always pictured it would. We made a smooth landing, but the place had to wait on other planes before it could park at our exit gate.
The Chicago OHare airport was basically the exact opposite of the Toledo airport. It was enormous & extremely chaotic. We had to go through security again while poor Colleen had to make sure her luggage would go through to London Heathrow. While standing in line for security, there was a McDonalds right next to us that taunted us with its delicious aromas. Unfortunately, our strategy of waiting to get food after going through security backfired because there were no restaurants past the security gates. Chris and I were forced to load up on snack food to eat on the plane.
We boarded the plane, which was about three times the size of our previous plane. We were each given plastic packages with blankets, pillows, and headphones for the trip there. I sat down and braced myself for what I knew was going to be a sleepless night...
After the plane took off, I decided to complete the next part of my personal bible study while watching Chariots of Fire, a fitting movie to watch prior to the games. Early on, the plane experienced a ton of turbulence, but eventually, things evened out. During the film, we were served a late meal. I chose the chicken curry, which just about burned a hole in my mouth and looked like something somebody scraped off the side of the road. I guess what they say about airline food is true.
After the film, I got up, stretched out, brushed my teeth in the lavatory, and returned to my seat to attempt to sleep. I got about an hour of sleep until the morning crept up on us from out of the blue.
Less than two hours to London!!!
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