The Beginning

Sept. 10, 2010 10:12AM (Cyprus time)

So I will start my first blog off once I had arrived in the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, from Philadelphia.  I felt like I had already been traveling for days.  Wow.  I think my flight from Philly to Paris was about 8 hours, and of course I did not sleep at all.  I was too excited!  The Charles de Gaulle airport is something else.  It's not as glamorous as I would have expected...and no one seems to speak english!  My four years of French did not do much to help me, but I got by.  Security in other countries is pretty different than ours, so I took a long time getting through.  I definitely learned a lot about what goes in the bin and what doesn’t!  So after my 4 hour layover I was off to Frankfurt, Germany.  After that short flight I had a long layover of 8 hours.  The airport was nicer than I remembered, mainly because they had lounge chairs so I was able to find a place to sleep.  There were so many different languages being spoken around me and so many different looking people.  It was incredibly interesting.  As I have found with my previous travels abroad, I find many of the Europeans or natives of whatever country you find yourself in, to be extremely helpful to us outsiders.  Thank goodness for that.  Finally it was time to go to my gate for my flight to Larnaca, Cyprus!  That’s really where my trip began.  I found myself in a gate (in a closed off room, very strange) with tons and tons of Greeks!  I felt like I was in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.  Everyone was loud, people were even dancing, and I’m pretty sure the only language I could pick up on was greek.  I sat there, feeling like an outsider but not in a bad way, I just watched all these people, the culture of the people that I will be spending 3 ½ months with.  I smiled to myself.  That was the moment I knew I had picked the right location for this journey I have ahead of me. 

My flight was about 5 hours.  Imagine 5 hours of loud, fun-loving people.  Although I wanted to sleep, I couldn’t help but laugh and smile at them.  It was strange seeing kids who are clearly younger than me, ordering beer on the flight.  One of the many differences I will experience in Cyprus and the other countries I visit.  It was definitely an eventful flight.  Unfortunately, so was the afterwards.  I get off the plane and go to baggage claim, immediately nervous that my bags will not be there.  Sadly, they were not.  I tried not to freak out internally, but it was hard to prevent it.  I spent a lot of time at the baggage claim desk with some very helpful people.  These foreign countries are full of hospitable people and that is something I am so greatful for.  I was also supposed to meet my taxi driver at the airport.  He was to have my cell phone and the key to my apartment in Nicosia, about an hour away from Larnaca.  I did not stumble upon him.  This was my worst fear!  After admittedly a lot of tears, I found a taxi and a hotel.  I stayed here in Larnaca, and that is where I am now.  I am waiting for my taxi that will take me to my apartment in Nicosia, where I will truly begin my trip!  Although there were some bumps in the road, it was a great learning experience and a nice time to be alone and reflect on what is in store for me.  Next time I update my blog I will be in Nicosia!