Airports

Well, I have to admit it is pretty weird sitting in an airport (my third one of the day... two more to go in the morning!) knowing my still-in-college friends are back to school and my Centro Latino kids have their first day today. I say "weird" because I don't know how else to explain emotion right now. The travel from airport to airport is an emotional rollercoaster to say the least. It's a strange in between time where you've had your time to be sad about saying goodbye but the tears haven't yet been washed away by the joy of getting somewhere.

I didn't cry during goodbyes until this morning at 530 AM when I was going through security. I looked back and saw my adorably proud parents waving at me and I finally cried. A got a lot of strange looks from the people around me, which is annoying since I'm sure more people cry in airports than in any other public place. Now I am not sad anymore. I'm exhausted. I slept for a bit on the first plane to NY but had nightmares that I forgot my luggage. Sooo that didn't last long. And now, I get to wait about 7 hours before getting on the next plane ride. Waking up in Chile (my last stop before Argentina) will be when I really get excited. But now I am mostly numb and nostalgic thinking about the first day of school that I am not attending for the first time in 17 years.

Oh wait... then an Argentine family walks by me. I hear their accent and my heart melts and now I am excited again. See? Airports are a rollercoaster. But in the way that makes me happy to be young and alive. Argentina ya voy!!

PS. For those interested, both my bags weighed in at 65lbs this morning (see picture above for a visual). I got them both down to just above 50 by making my carry-ons heavier and leaving something clothes, books, and shoes behind. You'd think after traveling so much, I'd be a little better at packing...