GBR

I had the a good time snorkeling even though I presently have no photo evidence…pics from my disposable waterproof camera pending…

All day I couldn’t stop thinking about Finding Nemo! I saw clownfish, the black and white fish with the scar, but sadly no turtles. My favorite fish of the day was a parrotfish. However, there was something seriously constricting about wearing a snorkel, mask, life jacket, and skin-tight lycra suit. My stuffy nose and the mask did not mix well. I also somehow got a lovely tanline from the flippers. I cannot even imagine scuba diving. I don’t think it’s for me. Something about the oxygen tanks and gear all together freaks me out, and seeing my peers meters below me was unnerving. The coral reef itself was so intricate and beautiful to look at but it’s sad to think about what it used to be and how bleaching has rendered it dead in many parts. I had a few panic moments where I felt so claustrophobic in the mask. It was also extremely difficult to enjoy what I was seeing but also stick with my friends because everyone looked exactly the same out there. I got lost a few times and definitely freaked out a little bit.

Looking back at what I wrote about it, maybe snorkeling isn’t for me. LOL.

Palm Cove

This slice of paradise was about a 30 minute (and AU $80) Uber from our resort. We had almost the entire beach to ourselves all afternoon until more people started coming out around 4:30 pm for walks and to take in the views. I was a little bit alarmed that no one else actually went in the water and thinking about crocodiles, I also stayed out. The beach itself was much shorter than I’m used to in Sydney. Palm trees lined the beach and cast it in a shadow that was welcomed by me as I am almost out of sunscreen and cannot justify buying more before my flight to Auckland. I finished my most recent book, The Four Agreements, a short window into Toltec wisdom. It taught me to take ownership for myself, stop making excuses or listening to what others say, and start to actually live the life that I want. The four agreements? Be impeccable with your word, don’t take anything personally, don’t make assumptions, always do your best. Went for a short walk along the coast as the sun dipped below the trees. My playlist? Wild Horses, The Rolling Stones; Let the Light In, Lana Del Rey; Woman of 1000 Years, Fleetwood Mac; Cactus Tree, Joni Mitchell; Mother Nature’s Son, The Beatles. I noticed that mixed in with the sand was a clay-like material so I touched it, bad idea, it was super greasy and I couldn’t get it off my hands. No I do not want to know what it actually might have been. The foamy waves cut rivers of their own into the sand and created a cool ripple effect. My skin burns from the sun and sand but I am happy because I am here and right now the present moment is all I have and all that is real. This trip has offered so many opportunities to reflect on who I am and what is important to me. Right now what comes to mind is cultivating moments exactly like this afternoon on the beach, listening to the waves crash and being in silent company with friends, cherishing it because it is fleeting but so beautiful.

My Airport Crash Out

You didn’t think it was all sunshine and rainbows and golden moments this week did you? Good. Because it wasn’t. Cue the worst day of my entire time abroad so far. Our scheduled path was a flight back to Sydney and then to Auckland from there. First problem? Jetstar got almost everyone on the plane with overweight carry on fees. My bags were 11kg over the limit so they made me pay even more and gate check my carry on suitcase. Of course, there was plenty of space in the overhead bins and about 15 of my bags could have fit. That’s how they get ya!

We were scheduled to depart Cairns at 6:40, arrive in Sydney at local time 10:40. Our next flight was set to leave at 12:40 Sydney time. I was thinking, 2 hours is plenty of time!! I was sorely mistaken. Since we had to switch to the international terminal and from a domestic to an international flight, we had to get our bags from baggage claim rather than a typical layover where the airport switches your stuff for you. We ended up landing at 10:50. Got off the plane at around 11:15. Had to wait an extremely long time to get our bags. Then, we had to wait for the bus to the international terminal. Then, we had to ride the bus (about 7 minutes that felt like a lifetime). Keep in mind, I was the first in our group to get my bags and I was the only one to make that bus. Everyone else was at least 15 minutes behind me at this point. I finally got to the check in spot for Qantas—one 24 kg suitcase, one 8 kg suitcase, and one 11 kg tote bag in tow—at 11:50. Less than an hour til boarding time but I had hope of making it so I moved as quickly as I could.

I tried to check myself in but to no avail. The attendants told me I couldn’t check in anymore but seemed to be avoiding stating outright that I had missed my flight. They sent me to the sales counter and told me to explain to them what had happened. The reality unfolded slowly in my head and I looked around frantically, not a familiar face in sight, feeling more and more alone and scared than I have thus far. At the counter, a woman in front of me was being extremely rude and taking what felt like ages to understand that yes, she would have to pay overweight fees every time she flew with her overweight bags. When it was finally my turn, I explained to the woman what had happened, tears slowly welling in my eyes. She looked bemused and frankly a little bit entertained by my plight. She told me that my flight landed an hour ago and there was no reason I should have missed this one. She made a comment about me traveling with a group and asked where they were. I could feel her intentions and that she was hoping I would say they already made it through so she could have an “I told you so” moment and blame me even more. She seemed disappointed when I said they hadn’t even made it to this terminal yet because she couldn’t use that against me to put me down even more.

She told me there was nothing she could do, not an ounce of remorse in her tone. I felt my heart sink in my chest. I was completely alone. I didn’t even have the support of the airline employees whose job it is to help in situations like this. I haven’t even flown without my parents before being abroad. I don’t know how it works when you miss your flight. My head began to swirl with every bad thing that could be in my near future: there’s nothing they can do so I’m going to have to pay over $1000 for a new flight, right? That’s way over my monthly limit and I don’t have any way to access the money in my savings account. The longer I wait trying to figure out what to do, the more of a chance I miss even the next flight out and I risk having to pay for in a hotel in Sydney tonight. What if I miss orientation tomorrow morning? What if I make it there today but can’t get into my apartment because it’s so late? I wanna go home.

Good thing I remained calm. (That was a joke). I became absolutely hysterical. Inconsolable. I started sobbing immediately as I walked away from the sales desk. I frantically called my mom and couldn’t even get the words out because I was so upset. Hyperventilating, couldn’t breathe. How could this lady blame me when I was the first one from our flight to arrive? There was absolutely NO WAY I could’ve possibly made it on that flight, and I didn’t even book it that way! I felt absolutely frozen in place. I definitely caused a scene. My parents did everything they could to make me feel better and I’m so thankful that they were there for me. Looking back, I know now that it all worked out but I couldn’t think of a single way that would happen in the moment. And of course, the wheels on my bags decided to not behave as I was trying to get to the Jetstar desk so I was dealing with my bags getting stuck or spinning around the entire time. I haven’t cried that hard since I left my family in Newark 2 months ago. 

My faith in humanity was revived when an angel of a woman with an accent I didn’t recognize came up to me and sweetly touched my arm and asked me if I was okay. Obviously I wasn’t but I appreciated the sentiment more than she could ever know in that moment. She told me she has a daughter around my age and couldn’t sit back and watch while I was so upset, completely by myself. I’ve been playing those words in my head as I navigate my new city the past few days and it’s a touching reminder that we really are all the same; we all have lives of our own and families of our own and no one is really ever alone. 

I ended up getting put on the 5:50 pm flight to Auckland. Thank goodness it worked out and I only got there about 5 hours after I was supposed to. This experience is something that I never want to relive but missing flights is unfortunately part of life and I suppose it’s good that I got my first missed flight out of the way. Now I understand how it works and that the airline usually will figure it out. I wish I didn’t crash out so badly but looking back I don’t know how anyone can possibly react differently. I’m extremely type A, and I try to be very organized and plan everything out to the last detail, so I think I have extra trouble with things not going according to plan. At least now I am safe and sound, mostly settled into my new apartment in Auckland. I miss my friends. I’m looking forward to starting my internship tomorrow and seeing what new adventures this new city can bring, even if I’ll be doing a lot of it by myself!