That One Time I Missed My Flight...

Yeah, you read that right.

I can't believe it happened but it did. I was ready, so ready in fact that I cleaned and vacuumed this morning before leaving. I arrived at the airport only to find that I was far too late and it was the only flight out that day to my destination. I honestly still can't believe that I missed it. I wasn't even running, or speeding down the streets, or there wasn't an accident - I am just stupid.

I was just like

and

Then I tried to get myself together and catch a different flight. After I spoke with Iberian Air, they informed me that there were no flights today or tomorrow. After waiting on the phone to speak with someone from some unknown agency, I came to the conclusion that no flying was happening anytime soon.

Thank God, Joana was with me. I was crying that my mom was going to kill me for missing my flight and that I didn't have money to buy another. She was so sweet to me. She told me we can figure something out and if I have to wait for a cheaper ticket I can stay with her for free.

I felt a little at ease in the car ride back to Bordeaux, but I looked up prices only to find the same one-way flight for $3,000 this week. The panic set it. Not only do I have to tell my parents I missed my flight, but I also have to tell them I need a new 3k ticket. Today, my friends, was not my day.

I waiting so many agonizing hours until the travel agency opened. It was only then I would be able to find a solution. I called mummy and she was so sympathetic and kind about the whole situation. That made me feel better.

My friend Alex dragged me out of the house. He told me I couldn't just lay around and be depressed. We went to a café at Gambetta and after we went to the Basilica of Saint-Seurin and its crypt 

The crypt dates back to the 4th century while the church dates back to the 6th century. It is an UNESCO world heritage site.

I returned home to finally call the agency. Let me tell you, those people at STA student travel are the business. After calling back and forth and looking through all the possibilities home chick hooked it up. The fee was less than 200 bucks, which is a steal considering I thought I had to pay $3,000 I am still waiting for the final paperwork as I type this, but I think I come home Wednesday, if all goes as planned. The travel agent told me to be there 3 hours in advance.

I was like

Lisbon

Lisbon

Marina and I met my friend from uc Davis at the airport in Madrid. We took the short flight and bus to our hostel. We were greeted by five friends who were already there since the day before. Then my bestie from Davis flew in from London where she has been interning this semester.

The gang of nine set out for some authentic Portuguese dinner. We we recommended a restaurant within a few blocks. The menu was small but everyone liked what they ordered. After dinner we went for drinks.

Isabel enjoying her first steak in years.

There was a street lined with bars and people socializing in the street.

The next day we went to the beach the next day. It took a while to get such a large group together and ready, but we finally made it out of the hostel around 1pm. Our English friend Rebecca flew in that morning so we got enough sandwiches, snacks, and of course Portuguese wine for the day trip.

We had a blast. Swimming and sunbathing with friends on a beach in Lisbon... Who could complain?

We hopped the bus as the sun was setting. After a clean shower we had a chorizo and wine dinner. We sampled different chorizos barbecued on a small tabletop ceramic grill, while eating cheese and bread and washing it down with red wine.

Two hours later (bellies full of spicy meat and wine) we left the chorizo table and took a bottle of wine to the river. We relaxed for a bit then headed to bed.

The next day our group split into smaller groups. I went to see the castle on top of the city. The walk was a climb but well worth it. We stopped at a church and various little shops on the way. It was amazing and the view was beautiful.

After the castle, we had lunch, then we lost our friends. After a hopeless search we gave up and Marina, Rebecca and I visited Belém which is about 20 minutes by tram.

(Pictures to come - Sorry!)


We sampled some world famous pastries. The place could probably fit 250 people but it was still packed with a line out the door. However, it was well worth it.

For our last night with everyone we hit the bars one last time. But first we pre-gamed at our awesome hostel.

We met two girls from Bordeaux that came out with us and were really fun. In our drunken stupors I haggled 1 euro for a light up tiara and Aidan haggled 4 euro for a watch.

We ended the night with McDonald's (something I would regret the next day of course.)

Most of our friends left at four that morning. Marina, Isabel and I spent the next day sightseeing around our hostel.

The next morning we piled into a taxi. Marina and I said our goodbyes to our Madrid UC Davis friends and boarded our appropriate planes.

More Photos Here :)

Reflextions at LAX

(Sorry for the delay, internet access was pretty much non-existent between my flights)

Isn’t it crazy how life happens? In the past five months I have learned to either passively watch life as it goes by or actively make it happen. I spent an incredible four months in Bordeaux. I experienced things I had only dreamed of and met amazing people I could have only hoped existed. I tried, I failed; I tried, I succeeded. Either way, I learned so much about life, about the world, and most of all, about myself.

When I came home for Christmas, I was so happy to be home and back to what was familiar. Furthermore, I was able to appreciate my culture, my family and my home, more than I ever had before. Things that flash in my mind are my soft bed with Pierre, my warm shower, eating my favorite foods with my friends and Family, and enjoying the sun. My last blog included every thought that was eating away at my mind. I was scared to leave my safe and comfortable home. I didn’t want to leave my family and friends. After I posted my blog, I received an email from a friend from elementary school who is now in the military. He signed up his life to be sent anywhere in the world to service our country. He reminded me he did it to see the world and experience something he couldn’t in Sacramento. I felt ashamed that I was complaining about going back to France - a country I had chosen, and that I very much grew to love. All the support my friends and family gave me just solidified my decision; thank you.

So here I am, so lucky to be sitting here in an airport reflecting about my two worlds. First, there is my real home where I am loved and always welcome, and secondly there is my temporary home where my new friends, who have become my new, yet slightly dysfunctional, family. I love them both whole-heartedly. I selfishly want them both, which is absolutely impossible.

I hate flying. I hate leaving. I hate not being with Pierre. But I am fighting my fears one more time to enjoy the last of this beautiful life I have found in France. Adventures are challenging. They force us to face the areas in our mind we avoid at all costs, leave the comfortable known, and push ourselves to limits we didn’t know were fathomable. It’s absolutely terrifying. Then again, it’s absolutely exhilarating.

Home, Finally

Monday Night

Monday night our friends thought they would see us off before we went. It was nice since it was Bryan's last night in Bordeaux. We went to the pub by my house and stole someone's table. Yeah, I know we're rebels like that.

Preparations

Bryan and I got back to my place around maybe 11:30? I have no idea really. Then we finished our packing and got in bed by 1:30am. When my alarm went off at 4am, I was less than pleased. Bryan insisted we be at the airport early just incase there were any hiccups. We waited at his terminal for an hour and a half. Fun stuff, man. Then we boarded our separate flights to Paris and took off at 7am.

20 Hours of Torture

I arrived in Paris, picked up my bag, checked my bag, got some MacDo for breakfast (the French translation for Mickey D's) and headed to my terminal. The wait seemed endless, and my flight was a little late taking off because of the strikes.

I met a girl, Madeline, on my flight who was also headed to SF and had been studying at Sciences Po in Paris. I read the hunger games, took a 20 minute nap, and watched Bridesmaids only to discover I still had 6 more hours on that dreaded plane. I will save you the excruciating details, but suffice it to say that I part of me died on that flight.

Madeline and I ran through the airport, went through customs, got our bags, dropped off our bags, and made it just in time to board our flight in Texas. Our two and a half our window turned into less than an hour to get those things done. I was depressed to not have anything to eat in Texas, since my fat ass had already scoped out the restaurant list a week prior to travel.

I sat next to the loudest, most obnoxious man on my flight. This three hour home stretch turned into the most excruciating of all my flights. He would talk to anyone who listened. And even though I was ignoring him he said "oh she's ignoring me..." but continued to talk at me.

Plus 2 driving home

When I finally arrived in SF I was three hours into the most excruciating headache of my life. My mom picked me up at baggage and she had these precious things called Tylenol. Oh la la, I was even more glad to see here then. We stopped at Taco Bell and I enjoyed my burrito on the way home.

PIERRE!!!!

OMG I nearly died when we were reunited. He cried and I held him like a baby. After I mustered up the energy, I took a hot shower and then crawled into bed with Pierre. We snuggled. It was so great.

Now I am here, typing away furiously at 6 in the morning with a case of jet lag.. Whatever, I'm just glad to be home

I'll be Home for Christmas

WTF

Pardon me for starting my blog with an acronym including a bad word, but seriously WHAT THE FUCK?? Where did these last four months go? It all happened so fast. The semester kids are almost all gone, back to California, our real home. Todd is gone, Lauren left to Paris to pick up her mom who is visiting for Christmas, and Bryan is spending his last night here at Joana's. We (Bryan, Marina and I) will be taking a taxi to the airport super early tomorrow morning.

I didn't announce that I was coming home for Christmas, because it seemed so far away, but now here I am packing to go home for 2 weeks. It's such a short stay for the long plane ride, but it will be well worth it. My mom said Pierre might pee when he sees me since he'll be so excited; I said I might pee too.

Last Hurrah 

We all splurged and had an actual sit down lunch on Friday -  that's right, no Mezzo Pasta or Kebabs. It consisted of five sampling plates. Oh la la, it was so unimaginably good. We were so wrapped up in the food we didn't take any pictures. I will spare you the mouth watering details, and suffice it to say it was one of the best meals that I have had here.

Everyone went out Friday night, but my sick ass had to stay home and avoid the horribly stormy weather.  So, sorry, no story on that.

We exchanged gifts the night before Lauren left for Paris, Saturday, after Mezzo and banana bread beer. We all got such thoughtful gifts. It was so sweet.

Christmas in Bordeaux

The city has been covered in lights, and I really have to good photos to describe it's magic. But here's what I do have:

Random Stuff

I decorated my room in lights, it's pretty cute if I may say so myself.

I have been using all my will power to avoid the 3rd book in the Hunger Games Trilogy so I have something to read on the plane. Thus, I have been devouring Stieg Larsson's The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest which is also the 3rd in his Trilogy.

OMFG

I will be home in less than 48 hours!!!