My Arrival in the United States of America

After months of planning, plotting and procrastinating, I have finally touched down in the land of cheeseburgers and cowboys. And so begins my 4 month stint here. No … seriously. I could not walk into any café in LA airport without the option of a cheeseburger AND I have seen no less than 4 men dolled up in their finest John Wayne accessories. So, in the spirit of my arrival, I ordered a cheeseburger and now on my connecting flight to my first destination (i.e. Chicago) I am feeling quite the contented cow. Except for the 20 hours sans sleep, the dried facial skin from the fake air in the plane and something of a hangover from the two red wine piccolos I enjoyed on the international flight. Please, keep in mind, drunkenness multiplies at high altitudes – try to avoid the alcohol.

Actually come to think of it, I’m a little depressed. I just left my family and friends not more than 16 hours ago standing in the check-in area of Sydney airport. Not to see them again for 4 months. And trust me, leaving is HARD. I had always said “nah, no problem, four months will FLY by; it will be like I never left”. But the actual act of saying goodbye and walking away was they hardest thing I’ve ever had to do … in memory … I think. I really was a complete mess. Girls – waterproof mascara is a must if you’re going to feel guilty about staining other people’s clothing in your teary state. Oh boy, did I cry like a baby or what?! And I continued to cry through all the security checks and while waiting for the plane, and ON the plane and even when the stewardess had the nerve to be nice to me.

But the flight was decent. I was pleasantly surprised to not have been placed next to a balding, smelly, fat man as I had feared – I requested an aisle seat, and the seat next to me was unoccupied AND the girl next to that seat was so thin, that at certain angles I couldn’t even see her. The meals, though decidedly “plane-like” were edible, and I enjoyed the privilege of choosing which movie/TV show I want to listen to on my personal screen.

Touching down was scary though, with the prospect of facing the immigration crew (to whom we were all led through a very long corridor adorned with framed pictures of both Bush and Cheney). The people at immigration aren’t really happy – I was glad I was prepared, for fear of being chastised for not being efficient enough! So make sure you have every single piece of your visa documentation on your person! Preferably in a display folder for easy access. Seriously, everything. They ask to see your Sevis fee receipt and other documents I didn’t expect them to need. So keep it all together and WITH you. No one had told me this, so I’m glad I thought “I’ll keep that with me for just in case”. Consider yourself warned.

Anyway, the flight to Chicago is about to land and I must secure my table and return my seat to the upright position – oh baby!!

Ciao!!