Feb 23, 2012
As I sit here in the airport, I'm slowly coming to terms with what is set right in front of me. I'm about to embark on a week and a half of adventure...alone. It's no secret that I thrive when I'm with people and that I hate being alone. But this journey is going to be me filled with my own thoughts. Just right now, I am sitting at the airport waiting. There's nothing to do and nothing to see. And noone to talk to. I'm sure this will be a common situation on this trip and I'll have to learn to deal with it.
I remember the first time I flew alone. I had just come back from Guatemala with CTI in highschool and I was flying back home. I'm sure I was nervous, but I knew what was doing and it went smoothly.
And I have gone many places not knowing anyone before and I havemade friends easily. But in all these cases, I was in situations where I met people in the same situation or program as myself.
This time, though, I travel solo through and through. I'm not just hopping on a flight by myself or meeting up with a program. This is all me. Iknow two years ago I would never have been able to do this. But I have grown since then and have gotten comfortable with what used to be outside of my comfort zone. No now I head even outside of these new regions of my comfort zone. I will need to be vigilant, outgoing, and I think most importantly I will need to have confidence in myself. I am more capable than what I give myself credit for.
My favorite quote is "A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what they are built for."
So with that being said...
...here I go!
---------
Well I made it to the city and got situated in my room and then I decided to just take a relaxing stroll. Being good with directions, no map was needed for where I was going. I guess that helped a bit with the nerves. I strolled along Lad Ramblas with my head high and my hand on my purse and now I am sitting in the warm sun in Placa Catalunya, or Placa Pidgeon as I like to call it. Now, I'm sitting on the far side of the Placa from where I came from and to get to this seat, I had to cross this sea of birds. All was going well and I was watching where I was stepping when, all of a sudden, something disturbed them and I was caught in the middle of a huge pidgeon "flypede" (I can't call it a stampede since they weren't doing any stamping). I'm lucky I got out of there with a clean head, but I'm pretty sure a pigeon wing collided with my head.---------
22*C and time for the beach! From Placa Catalunya I took a relaxing walk down past the statue of Columbus and on down to the beach. Today is such a beautiful day. The sun is shining, I don't even need to wear a coat, and there are so many people out and about. This is the Spain that I love. It's amazing how many people are out on the beach, too. I guess they're as excited about the surge of warm weather as I am. Luckily for me, though, it's still cool enough that everyone's still wearing their clothes.
That's a long time to go off by yourself! But I know that you can do it and I'm sure that you'll see many amazing things! I know the hardest parts are when you have to wait, or when you're not out doing something; hopefully you can keep your schedule full with fun things to see and do and remember, there's people back home who are thinking of you. You're never completely alone!
ReplyDeleteThat plaza with all the pigeons sounded great. When I was little, my Grandma used to take me and my brother and sister out to a park near our house in New York and feed the birds there; it's astounding how many congregate to a place where they know they can be fed!
Good to hear that the weather is mild enough to go and enjoy the beach. I can't wait to hear more about your adventure!
And I absolutely agree that you're stronger than you give yourself credit for. :)
-John