From 3 PM EST to 3PM CEST (Central European Summer Time)

So day 1 of my journey to Luxembourg started off with a pretty big hiccup: my flight got canceled…Thankfully, another one at the same exact time was scheduled, but for the next day. I didn’t notice this though, because I saw that it was the same time with a different connecting flight and thought that was the only change. When I looked back at my email showing the alternate route, the canceled date and new date of the flight were the same, but both said 11/9 instead of 10/9. I didn’t find out until I got to the airport, ready with my bags, and the staff member told me that the flight was canceled.

I was overridden with emotion and almost left my carry-on when my parents circled back to pick me and my boyfriend, Camden, up again. Camden’s flight was still set for 6:30, so he had a good 2 and a half hours until he needed to be at his gate. My mom suggested showing Camden the Navy Yard because of his love for abandoned places/ruins, and it did not disappoint. The only downsides were that there was a lot of construction to maneuver around and we got eaten alive by mosquitoes. We then went to the FDR park to find the Southeast Asian market, but we found a soccer game with a handful of Mexican food stands instead. I got tacos al pastor for Camden and myself as well as horchata, one of his favourite drinks. I’m so glad we stopped for food because his flight ended up being delayed for almost two hours.

Dropping Camden off was extremely difficult for me because I thought my last moments up until leaving the U.S. would be spent together. We planned to go to the United Club and cross-stitch together, and now I kind of resented having to be with my mom. I was embarrassed about continuously crying, but I also knew it was better to let it out. After we said our final goodbye, I collected myself and drove to pick my dad up from 30th Street station. We then had an incredible last dinner at Nirvana, a new Indian restaurant in Chestnut Hill. Funnily, my last meal in Japan was Indian food too.

Today, I saw my flight was delayed, but only by 40 minutes. I still got to the airport at the same hour, as the email suggested, but this time, my parents came with me to check-in. Thank goodness they did because it turned out that I hadn’t already paid for a checked bag even though I thought it was guaranteed with an international overnight flight. My carry-on also happened to be too heavy, so it cost $175 for the two bags. I truly don’t understand why it is so expensive. My parents were kind enough to eat the cost for me.

While waiting at the gate, the fire alarm went off for a good 10 or so minutes, but no one was doing anything. I was so confused and wondered why no one was really reacting nor any airport staff reassuring anyone on the loudspeaker. I went to the bathroom since my flight was meant to board in 15 minutes, and the alarm was still blaring. Our original boarding time was 5:45, the time our flight was meant to depart, and now it was announced we would start at 6:10. I didn’t mind as long as we could still get on eventually.

I am typing this on the plane while watching “She Said.” It actually wasn’t until I was going through my photos app deleting screenshots that I saw I had screenshotted a trailer for this movie. She Said is about the two journalists who finally got women to speak out on record about Harvey Weinstein’s sexual abuse in the workplace. It’s incredibly sad, but also empowering.

Once I arrive in Luxembourg, I have a 14+ hour layover for a 45-minute flight to Luxembourg. I previously spoke to an airline representative, who recommended taking my flight and requesting a refund after I land in Frankfurt. I don’t know about my checked bags, and my mom was also really worried about how they would be retrieved, but I trust it will all work out. I would much rather take a gorgeous 5-hour train ride across countries than wait over half of my day. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see!