Anyways, as we are boarding the plane for a 5 hour layover in Chicago, they tell us that the engine has a fuel leak so that flight is cancelled. Then begins the waiting. I stood in line for about 2 hours to get a new flight that went to Dallas. After hours waiting in the Dallas airport, I took an early flight to London Heathrow. It was about 7 pm at this time. Since I jumped on an early flight, I gave up my good seat I had chosen on the later flight, which I didn't think about until after I was walking on the plane. I should have just waited. It was American Airlines, so I was stuck in the middle of the middle row. Blah. It was impossible to sleep so I watched 3 different movies. All new releases! Not bad. The English woman next to me was incredibly nice, although I had a hard time understanding her accent. I think she felt she had to watch out for me since I'm like 18 or whatever.
After an all night, 9 hour flight, I make it to London Heathrow at 8 am, 3 am Louisiana time. I was all ready to go out on the town and spend a few hours around London but as soon as I got there I was like, no freaking way am I leaving this airport. London Heathrow is incredibly huge and confusing. It was freezing out and I only brought a light sweater. And I had to carry around my luggage since I didn't check anything (I didn't want anything to not make it to Africa). So I found a spot and camped out for 11 hours. I had started to get sick before I left, a sinus infection and sore throat, so I tried to sleep on a chair. It wasn't comfortable but I managed a few hours. Stupid Brits don't believe in free Wi-Fi but luckily I bought some pounds back home from the bank and was able to catch Kyle on Google messenger before he left for work. Too bad I didn't know any other international students because half of them were waiting for my same flight.
Finally, finally! my flight left from London Heathrow to Johannesburg. Another overnight flight. I sat by a white South African and he warned me about all the dangers of traveling to Botswana. Thanks, guy. But he did convince me to fly instead of take the bus, which would have been much cheaper but dangerous for a little white girl all by herself. I left London at 7 pm and made it to South Africa at 6am their time, 10 pm LA time. I thought I was about to have a Taken moment after going through customs, but I was on my guard and made it out sex slave free. After running to the ATM 3 times, I managed to book a flight to Gaborone, Botswana. I met another exchange student, Pete, from Colorado and a local, Gerald, on the way. I left there at noon and it was only a 45 minute flight. By Thursday, January 5th at 1 pm, I was at my destination! Only 45 hours of constant travel and waiting, with no showers, sleep, and little food. I made it!
Pete and I split a cab to the university and walked for a while trying to find our destination. They had some local cuisine waiting and since we arrived a day late, we missed a lot of the orientation. I walked to one of the three local malls, River Walk, with some of the other exchange girls and bought a few things with my newly enquired Pula. The exchange rate is 7 Pula to 1 US dollar so I find myself constantly dividing by 7 to see how much I am really spending. Some things are regular US price but others are a lot cheaper. After finding my room, getting a shower and settled in, I was finally able to fall asleep in a bed.
I woke up in a sweat (typically its in the 90's and I didn't have a fan) at 6:30 am to what sounded like cats yelling at each other. I look out my window to these little guys.
I'm not really into monkeys but they were cute to see with their little babies on their bellies.
I am going to find some food, I have plenty more to come!
2 jiggas said:
That is AWESOME!! (The monkies, not the 45 hours of travel)
U r insane little sis!!!!! That travel alone would have done me in.
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