Watford, England

I MADE IT!!!  After quite the journey I made it to Watford England which is about 20 minutes away from London, so basically London.  I don't know how to sum it all up, but I will do my best to make a long story short.
  The day my flight left:  I woke up early and had a Grand Fusion shake around 7:30 am with Tyler.  Um, yum.  My last shake.  Gave Tyler hug goodbye.  Drive to Crookston to see Kathryn and mom in the hospital because they arrived there via ambulance that night because Kathryn had pneumonia (and ran a few other tests on her, but I think the extent of it was pneumonia).  I haven't heard the final result yet, but I know they are back at home now!  I got my taxes finished.  Said goodbye to mom and Kathryn at the hospital.  Went home to finish packing and get my haircut.  Kristen drove me to the airport at 3.  Liz and Lisa met us there (WOW I have amazing friends and family).  Realized that the plane coming back from Chicago was an hour late so I was bound to miss my connection flight to London.  Say goodbye to the girls and get to Chicago at 9:00, my flight was supposed to leave at 9:01 but they wouldn't let us off the plane!  So after trying to make a few phone calls to people I knew in Chicago for somewhere to stay, I had to settle with a hotel room, even though I am VERY budgeted on this trip so hopefully my travel insurance can cover!  I get to the airport at 4 to make my 6am flight to London.  Send out my last text messages for the entire 9 months (SOOOO WEIRD).  The flight was pretty empty so I had my own row which made things much more comfortable.  I studied the entire way, did a little soduko (thanks to Tyler's going away present haha!), and watched a movie :)  I arrive in London at 10pm England time.  Find out that my luggage is coming on the next plane to London in the morning.  By this point I was pretty exhausted and was almost happy that they were going to deliver it to me rather than me lugging it across town!  The lady working at the baggage claim knew EXACTLY where the YMCA is and told me she would just drop me off here since she lives only a few minutes away!  haha. Wow, the way things happen sometimes amazes me.

At the YMCA.  Upon my arrival here, it is Friday night and all of the other Steiner (the name of the company who hires and trains for cruise ships) students are pretty rowdy as it is the weekend and the bars are located on the same block as our bulding!  I was eagerly welcomed and felt immediately at home.  My roommate was sleeping when I put my things in my room.  Which is very much like a dorm and we share one shower and toilet with 2 other boys in the next room.  She is from Portugal.  I only met 2 other Americans, one from Chicago and another from Nebraska.  I am the minority here and I am loving it!  So many great accents and personalities.

Now I have some unpacking to do and need to run out into the town and so a little exploring of my whereabouts.  I should be getting hungry soon but I think I am too nervous/excited to eat!  haha.