Getting to London

I've been wanting to do the London Study Abroad with the University of Utah Theatre Dept. for as long as I can remember. In the fall of 2010 I attended an orientation and was not so sure that it was going to pan out but come January I was determined to go and I started the process. The cost, pricey for a full time student working part time for a nonprofit but well worth it I was assured.

At 4:00 am on May 6th I was still packing for my 940am flight. I couldn't sleep so I decided to stay up and pack. Plus, I went to see Thor with my little brother Estevan, my sister Amanda and her fiancé Ben at midnight. Between 2:00 am and 6:00 am I couldn't figure out how to stuff all of my crap in my suitcase. My mother had to help me pack, thank goodness because I couldn't have done it with out her and caught my plane on time, as I was growing very flustered. I hadn't even showered and it was almost 7:00am. 

My plan was to be at the airport by 7am...I didn't arrive at the airport until 8am. All was fine, I printed my tickets, checked in my bags and got through security with no issues. My mom saw me through to security and Amanda waited in the van. I love my mom and sister; if you know them you love them too :-)

I boarded my first flight from Salt Lake to Phoenix. It was a tiny plane with 2 rows, each with 2 seats. I was fortunate enough to sit next to a very nice lady from Canada who was on her way to visit a friend in Phoenix and soak up the sun by the pool. I told her I was going to London to study theatre abroad. She asked me what my major was and when I said Set Design she then, as many people do, proceeded to ask me what I would do with that. My response: Set Design. Simple as that people. Don't worry I was nice.

As we deplaned I noticed that my connecting flight was leaving in 15 minutes. I really needed to pee. I rushed to the restroom, 5mins. I looked for a monitor so that I could figure out what gate I was supposed to be at, 5mins. I started to walk briskly towards the gate when I heard a voice announcing overhead that the last call for passengers to board my flight. Then I started to run...no I didn't fall. I made it there just as they were calling my last name. "Salazar!"

This plane was bigger and headed to Detroit where I would connect to a London Flight. The flight was about three hours long and I sat next to a funny young couple on their way to Detroit from Phoenix. The wife stared at me for several seconds, I could tell from the corner of my eye, before asking "Are you from Phoenix?" Then she was very chatty and I don't recall a word of what she said. I was tired and only wanted to sleep. When she finally stopped talking I tried to sleep but I'm a head bobber and every time my head bobs forward I wake up. I then tried to watch a movie, THE TOURIST, but the earphones the attendant sold me really sucked.

We finally arrived in Detroit and again I was running for my next connecting flight - this time it was only 10mins in-between flights and it seemed like twice as far. So I ran all the way. The airport in Detroit is huge; it’s like a mall, stores all over the place and a train of some sort inside of it. Weird. The announcer comes on over a speaker and gives the final boarding call for my flight and as I'm getting to gate I hear my named called "Salazar!”

I board the plane and find my seat. I am in a three row section and much too my delight sitting with two students in my program! It was the best way to end my flight to London :-) The seats were comfortable, food was tastier and entertainment had variety. I watched Chronicles of Narnia and Country Strong, Chronicles being the far better choice. The flight was about 8hrs long! I tried to sleep but was in and out because of my head bobbin' all over the place. Over all, it was all right and my excitement (and that of my fellow students) grew the closer I (we) got to London. Come back in a day or two and I'll have pics and more stuff posted about my time here in London!