July 19, 2013 - Coming Home!

After not going to bed until at least 2:00 and having to wake up at 6:00 to be downstairs in the lobby ready for the cab, I was a bit tired. I went downstairs at 6:15. The cabs were already there and the guy started loading my luggage in without even asking me anything first. Then he was like are you ready? Uh no sir I'm not paying for a cab to the airport all by myself. Jess and Shelby came down and he loaded their stuff in and we took off. We were even supposed to wait for Cassidy but the guy was in a hurry so we just left. He was a crazy driver and the whole time we were praying to not die. He dropped us off at terminal three. Jena, Lora, and Cassidy met us there. We went inside and started to check in when they informed us that we were at the wrong terminal - we needed to be at terminal five. So we got on a shuttle and got to terminal five. We walked in and Stephen, Tayler, and Brandon had already checked in and were about to go through security because they thought that we had already gone through. We went down and stood in line. I got up to the lady and weighed my luggage. I was at 25kg. She had me unpack and put stuff in my carry-on. Then for the first time in history, she weighed my freaking carry-on! That has never happened! Carry-ons are supposed to be 8kg, my was at 18kg. She said you're going to have to check this bag. I asked if there was any other option and she said afraid not. I of course freak out and start bawling, call Jena over. The lady said that it'll cost 70 euros/$91. I had about $15 left in my bank account so Jena covered me because she's a freaking saint. Then the f-ing lady weighed my freaking backpack!!! What the hell?!? I have never had any problems with any American airports or airlines. But of course this happens to me. She made me take stuff out of my backpack and put it with my carry-on which was already paid for. It was the most ridiculous thing. We waited for everyone to check in, I'm bawling because I'm so pissed. That and Jess was at like 27kg and the lady just made her put on her rain boots! Why the heck do I get stuck with all the retarded airline people?! We went through security, found our gate, and I just sat there in misery. I got a coke (no Dr. P of course) and a donut. We sat around for a while because our plane was late. We finally boarded. We said goodbye to Jess and Shelby - their flight was at 11:00. We got on the plane. We thought we were flying Delta, but no we were flying Airitalia or something like that. We walked on and they hadn't cleaned the plane from the last people so it smelled and there was garbage and stuff everywhere. Stephen freaking stepped on a razor blade! He had his shoes on so it didn't hurt him but still! We sat down. I was sitting next to Jena and this lady who was from Algeria that didn't speak any English and her daughter. She kept trying to talk to me and I was just like obviously I can't understand you... I tried to sleep but that didn't really work. I blogged for a bit but I had forgotten to charge my iPad and my laptop the night before so they both died. They fed us twice on the flight - nastiest airplane food I have ever had! I got the lasagna and it was like a mix between chicken pot pie and lasagna that was microwaved. Yuck! I didn't eat it. Then later on they gave us a piece of bread with like some cheese and weird spinach stuff on top and a piece of fruit cake... gross. When I fell asleep one time, I woke up and my flip flop had fallen off my left foot. I looked around and couldn't find it but I didn't think too much of it - there was still like six hours left of the flight and it can't have gone far. I just listened to music on my phone and played games. Towards the end, Jena and I played a few card games. We landed in Chicago around 4:00. We got off the plane, went through customs and passport control, and had to go get our luggage because it wasn't transferred straight to Salt Lake. It was so nice being on American soil again where almost everyone speaks English! We had to wait forever to get our luggage but finally got it. We checked it in and thankfully they didn't weigh it again and I didn't have to pay again. We went through security and got to the gate. Starbucks was conveniently right next to our gate. I got a vanilla bean with caramel, an bagel, and a cinnamon twist - don't judge me. I charged my phone and was actually able to call my momma!!! It was wonderful! 'MURICA! We got on the plane. It was much smaller and it was actually Delta so the flight attendants were so nice and they gave us drinks and were just wonderful haha I sat by Lora and Jena. We played cards to stay awake for a while but I slept for the last hour. We got into Salt Lake at 7:00. We got off the plane, went to baggage claim, and I got to see my family from the escalator for the first time in six weeks! It was so wonderful to see them! I missed them so much! They're amazing. It was my mom and dad, Al, and CJ along with an American balloon and a monkey in a diaper - uh? We got my luggage, I said goodbye for now to everyone and gave hugs, then we got in the car and headed home. I told them a bunch of stories about what we did and the people I met and everything. We got home and they had made me a sign - by "they" I mean Al, CJ, the Elders, Cory, and Chase haha it had Harry Potter, a leprechaun, Big Ben, the Colosseum, a penis artfully turned into an elephant, haha it was good to be home. I unpacked and gave everyone their presents. CJ loved his kilt and ran around screaming, "Feast your eyes!" haha he better enjoy it, it was the weight that made me pay all that freaking money. It was so nice to be home and be in my room. I unpacked, Amanda came over, along with new friends of the family - Ben and Shirey, the guy my mom picked up at UCCU - it's a long, weird story. We got in the hot tub which was wonderful, hung out for a bit, then I finally got to go to bed around 11:00. My bed is so wonderful. It's so good to be home. I'm so grateful for this trip, for the places and things I saw, for the friends I've made, for the things I've learned, for a wonderful six weeks! Loves!