The Day of Eternal Travel

I dislike airports, I have decided. They smell funny, and they're uncomfortable - for most people. And I'm always irritated by those people who seem perfectly pleased to be in transit. You know, the women with the hair and the makeup and the shoes? That's my least favourite way to dress normally, forget when I'm way up in the air and exhausted and cramped. Don't get me wrong, I love travel, I just dislike the getting there part, specifically the type that is eternal transit, one million transfers! But really I shouldn't complain, right? I mean, 3 flights isn't that bad... 

But it is when you've only had 3 hours of sleepless sleep (packing always takes longer than I expect, and then there's the required goodbye phone calls to everyone not in Portland) and will be travelling for over 18 hours. Gross. When I finally got past the nervous butterflies to sleep, I promptly had a panic-attack about getting to the gate on time, about going through Germany, about flights being delayed, about missing flights, but half asleep and half awake. Then, of course, when it was time to get up at 5:30 am, the power went out. And it wasn't just out, which was probably a good thing since I wouldn't have woken up without the alarm but appears pretty bad when you're in the bathroom doing your early morning business and it goes out. And then you have to get dressed and hold up a cellphone in order to assist in the making of a pb&j sandwich. 

Yet, here I am. In Portland airport, voted best airport in America three years in a row, I am being constantly reminded. And honestly, it totally deserves it. The security dudes who checked my ID and boarding pass and put me through the metal detectors were not only not evil but they were actually friendly! What a concept! Security was fast and efficient - they opened up another lane to move people along before the line stretched to eternity. Apparently I am very easily impressed. Oh, and by the way - I'm on the airport's free internet. It just saddens me that so little of my trip will be here, since I highly doubt Seattle will measure up. Sure, PDX isn't as pretty as Vancouver, with their fancy new stuff to show off for the Olympics, but it is much more pleasant.

But enough gushing about the airport. The point is I'm more or less on my way. And yes, I'm excited. But I'm also scared shitless. Yes, I've been to Italy before, but really... that hardly counts. It was not very good preparation for leaving for approximately 100 days. This is going to sound the lamest, but I feel like I'm sitting on the cusp of some shift or something. I know that this won't be like anything I've ever done, and likely everything will have changed when I come back. Which is freaky, mostly because it's unknown. And I just wish I knew what would still be here when I come back - I'd love to tag the stuff that's important and say, "Please, leave this. This makes me happy, so let's keep this." But then, maybe that's just the stuff I'm comfortable with. 

Anyway, they're preboarding now. I should start paying attention. Keep me in your thoughts as I traipse across the globe in the next 18 hours. 

UPDATE: 
I have made it to Seattle safely, although that last part was in the air (ha!) for a bit. Portland weather means not fun turbulence. Now begins a long waiting game for a long flight. Seattle is not as nice as Portland, but at least it's hopped on the free wi-fi bandwagon (or should I say, bandwidth, amiright?). Anyway, I was supposed to announce to my loved ones that I will likely not have internet access until the 18th. I'm not sure if that's the 18th Italy time or West Coast time, but you have all been warned.

Have met a woman who graduated from UW and who's going to Korea to teach English for two whole years. The only person there is her fiance and she doesn't speak Korean - she's been studying it only since last night. Sheesh. Makes me feel silly for stressing about my measly 100 days with people I know! She hasn't even met his family yet... I suppose I should put on my big girl panties and quit whining. Although this does highlight one of the strange things about airports - I don't know this woman/girl, but she just poured out her whole life story. She's worried and stressed, and needs to tell someone. Airports do strange things to people. Small town girl engaged to Korean company son... Anyway. I feel sorry for her. She doesn't seem that excited, she seems fretful and unsure. I might be nervous as all get out, but I am excited, and I know, surely, that this is a good thing.

<3 

ps. Bought a camera (or rather, a camera was chosen for me and then I coughed up the dough)! Panasonic LX5, for what it's worth, with awesome macro and HD movie. So many inane videos of meanders around Portland by an amateur documentarian (no, not me).