Hello!
New address, same posts, same sarcastic commentary.
I started this blog in 2010 during the year I spent abroad in college. This blog could originally be found at rdominicana-lafrance.blogspot.com, because why choose an easier address, but I have since switched it to be more general...
Since MY year abroad, I have been so fortunate to continue to travel with students through my job at a study abroad office. In 2013 I spent six weeks in Nantes, France, and this summer I spent a month traveling around Greece and hiding from direct sunlight.
This time, I'll be traveling with students for about 3 months and going to 3 countries- France (my love), Morocco, and China.
The trip has had an eventful start. I should be eating something classy for dinner in a nice café in Paris right about now. Instead, I am in a Starbucks in Pittsburgh drinking an iced coffee and eating a Luna bar.
BACKTRACK so yesterday we were to fly out of Pittsburgh to Atlanta at 6, then fly from Atlanta to Paris at 830 or 9 or so. Caught a bus to campus, met up with some students, then took the 28X to the airport. We got there with more than enough time, everyone was there, no one had forgotten anything crucial, all good. We only had minor issues going through security. I got pulled aside- for the first time ever I think- because I had water in my Nalgene. I wasn't allowed to pour it out there (???) so I had to exit, pour it out outside, then go through security again. Just trying to stay hydrated PIT, just trying to stay hydrated.
We boarded the plane just a couple of minutes late. When we took off, I heard a loud noise underneath where I was sitting that I couldn't recall ever hearing before, but I assumed it was just because I was sitting directly above the wheels.
We're flying for about 20 minutes when the loudspeaker comes on and informs us that the landing gear/wheels/whatever didn't retract correctly so we need to turn around and land back in Pittsburgh. My question is, if the wheels are messed up already, why don't we just land in Atlanta because we're going to have the same issue either way? But I am not a pilot CLEARLY and there are many things I do not understand about planes.
I wasn't super concerned until we circled around the city for a second time and I noticed that the plane was going slower, then faster, then slower, then faster. Mini internal freak out. But I just sat there because really, what else could I do in that situation? Absolutely nothing.
We landed okay- the issue being that the wheels wouldn't go UP is probably a smaller issue than the wheels not going DOWN. However, when we landed the plane was immediately swarmed with like 3+ firetrucks. Which leads me to believe that this could've gone really, really poorly. Feeling very fortunate right now.
Had a conversation with the very nice people at the Delta counter who put us in a hotel for the night and rescheduled us to fly out tonight.
That would've been the end of the drama... but then I realized I couldn't find my passport. I NEVER lose my passport. Most prized possession. But I lost my passport.
I thought I left it on the plane, but I couldn't go check because the firemen/women were checking the plane. One of the agents went out to look for it, but she couldn't find it. I got slightly hysterical and she sent out another employee. He came back about 10 minutes later saying that he had to take the seat apart, but he found it. I hugged him. FAVORITE DELTA EMPLOYEE.
Yay big bed
Delta set us up at a hotel 15 minutes from the airport. I got a nice cookie, worked out, and relaxed in the two queen-sized beds in my room.
The next time you hear from me, HOPEFULLY I will be writing from Paris. FINGERS CROSSED.
New address, same posts, same sarcastic commentary.
I started this blog in 2010 during the year I spent abroad in college. This blog could originally be found at rdominicana-lafrance.blogspot.com, because why choose an easier address, but I have since switched it to be more general...
Since MY year abroad, I have been so fortunate to continue to travel with students through my job at a study abroad office. In 2013 I spent six weeks in Nantes, France, and this summer I spent a month traveling around Greece and hiding from direct sunlight.
Nearing sunset in Athens. On my bday btw.
This time, I'll be traveling with students for about 3 months and going to 3 countries- France (my love), Morocco, and China.
The trip has had an eventful start. I should be eating something classy for dinner in a nice café in Paris right about now. Instead, I am in a Starbucks in Pittsburgh drinking an iced coffee and eating a Luna bar.
BACKTRACK so yesterday we were to fly out of Pittsburgh to Atlanta at 6, then fly from Atlanta to Paris at 830 or 9 or so. Caught a bus to campus, met up with some students, then took the 28X to the airport. We got there with more than enough time, everyone was there, no one had forgotten anything crucial, all good. We only had minor issues going through security. I got pulled aside- for the first time ever I think- because I had water in my Nalgene. I wasn't allowed to pour it out there (???) so I had to exit, pour it out outside, then go through security again. Just trying to stay hydrated PIT, just trying to stay hydrated.
We boarded the plane just a couple of minutes late. When we took off, I heard a loud noise underneath where I was sitting that I couldn't recall ever hearing before, but I assumed it was just because I was sitting directly above the wheels.
We're flying for about 20 minutes when the loudspeaker comes on and informs us that the landing gear/wheels/whatever didn't retract correctly so we need to turn around and land back in Pittsburgh. My question is, if the wheels are messed up already, why don't we just land in Atlanta because we're going to have the same issue either way? But I am not a pilot CLEARLY and there are many things I do not understand about planes.
I wasn't super concerned until we circled around the city for a second time and I noticed that the plane was going slower, then faster, then slower, then faster. Mini internal freak out. But I just sat there because really, what else could I do in that situation? Absolutely nothing.
We landed okay- the issue being that the wheels wouldn't go UP is probably a smaller issue than the wheels not going DOWN. However, when we landed the plane was immediately swarmed with like 3+ firetrucks. Which leads me to believe that this could've gone really, really poorly. Feeling very fortunate right now.
Had a conversation with the very nice people at the Delta counter who put us in a hotel for the night and rescheduled us to fly out tonight.
That would've been the end of the drama... but then I realized I couldn't find my passport. I NEVER lose my passport. Most prized possession. But I lost my passport.
I thought I left it on the plane, but I couldn't go check because the firemen/women were checking the plane. One of the agents went out to look for it, but she couldn't find it. I got slightly hysterical and she sent out another employee. He came back about 10 minutes later saying that he had to take the seat apart, but he found it. I hugged him. FAVORITE DELTA EMPLOYEE.
Delta set us up at a hotel 15 minutes from the airport. I got a nice cookie, worked out, and relaxed in the two queen-sized beds in my room.
The next time you hear from me, HOPEFULLY I will be writing from Paris. FINGERS CROSSED.
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