Planes trains and automobiles...

I am no stranger to long trips and in particular long and arduous trips in sometimes cramped and uncomfortable situations; from night trains in Thailand, buses across the Egyptian desert to my miraculous two car rides, three flights and two trains that I took to arrive in England last September. To date, the latter mentioned journey is the greatest amount of different vehicles (planes, trains, automobiles) I had experienced in a single journey. Yesterday, I topped that. woo! I rule.

Yesterday morning I left Chester on a train around 10:30 in the morning. After my two hour train ride (on which I was very tired) I went up and down the stairs in the underground system of London. Not too bad here, only two underground trains, and I did manage to find the lift in the Green Park station which made life a little more happy :o) On the way to Heathrow, there was a delay at one point because... according to the announcements, there was 'an intruder' on the tracks between two of the stations. No worries, only a few minutes lost and she/he was apprehended (said the conductor) and we were off again to the airport. At the airport I went through a more strict security check than I have recently experienced whilst flying. I think this is probably to do with the G20 summit recently. Alright! Then onto my flight!

I was booked a seat in the very middle of the plane on this Delta flight, but luckily there was a really lovely family traveling to New York to celebrate their daughter's 18th birthday and they asked if I would switch to the aisle so that they could sit together. yes please! That worked out well. In addition to giving me a better seat, the time past more quickly in their company as we discussed culture and education and educational systems etc. Great people. I am glad because our flight was delayed in the take off and also upon our arrival to JFK, where we circled around the airport for an hour. That was a little less fun. But hey... got another 15 minutes of sleep, which put me at about an hour and half of sleep for the day. not bad... not bad...

Finally arriving to the terminal I went through customs and was one of the few Americans, so that was nice because they let me go first. Good to be home, wish it was that easy always. I then took what is called the air shuttle to the place where my enterprise shuttle was waiting to take me to the rental car place to pick up my car. This was all a pleasant experience, the people were very friendly. I forgot how nice customer service and genuine conversation with strangers can be. After loading up my car and heading out I got a little turned around ( multiple factors are at play here including but not limited to the fact that I have not driven in months and passengering on the other side of the road in England, it was night, I was in New York, with not the greatest directions). I finally made it to the White Stone Bridge and ALMOST got stuck in the easy pass lanes and yelled at by a cop (again... that happened last year as well... not okay. not fun) but instead I cut a bunch of people off and went through the cash only lanes like I was meant to do in the first place.

Of course, I think cutting people off while on that bridge built up some bad travelling Karma because then I proceeded to get very lost on my way to New Milford, and ended up on New Haven. After a few frustrated moments, I bought a map and a coffee and navigated my way through the back roads west to my destination. Stopping a few times to ask things like... what town is this? What road am I on right now? (not too well marked in this part of the country and it was really dark) So four hours after leaving the airport I arrived at my motel safe and sound and feeling pretty good for having navigated my way in an unfamiliar area after being awake for almost 20 hours (hour and a half nap) with just a map. woo! Very satisfying, though I did wish for a GPS and a cellphone a few times... but went the old fashioned way. I am actually really grateful that I was lost because I think if I had been on auto pilot to where I was going I may have fallen asleep at the wheel. As it was, being lost makes me hyper alert to everything around me, and that kept me going all the way to the Rocky River Motel. That, and deep thoughts like... hey if I while I am in America I only drive, and while in England I only ride shotgun, then I will always get in on the correct (and same) side of the car. whoa....

After a car ride, train ride, underground ride, plane flight, air shuttle, regular shuttle and four hours of lost back road driving... here I am in Connecticut/New York area for the next two weeks to teach the writing and reading portion of a SAT preparation course at the Kent School. hooray!