Skip to main content

Pre-departure and departure nerves

Well folks, here I am, waiting in Vancouver Airport for my flight to Shanghai. I still can't believe all the things I had to process before I got here. It's absolutely insane. From renewing my passport troubles, earlier this year to applying for scholarships but in the end not getting any of them to last minute health care plan issues I didn't know I had to take care of.

Parents, you have to thank them for reminding you about so many things. One is the issue of health care. I thought all I had to do was call the health care and it will be done, they give me a number plan and ta da I have it. However, Yesterday, I called to check and turns out I have to prove my exchange to the healthcare plan people in order to get all the plan benefits and etc. So, good thing it's all over internet and I don't have to do much but, if you plan to go on a university exchange, please remember to arrange the healthcare and prove to the system that you are going on an exchange. It's easy but it is quite the hassle.

Packing last night was stressful. I have been so busy with work until this week that I left my packing to the last three days. I was stuffing my guitar with clothes in order to cushion the guitar. (I also have a soft case so I reaally had to pack it in) Literally scared that the zipper might possibly pop. But I managed with the help of, again, my parents. (yay!) My suitcase packing was difficult though. I had to maintain 50lbs. I really wanted to pack light so it'll be easier for me to go from terminal to terminal you know. Even though yesterday I thought I didn't really pack that much, today, as I look at what I have, I really did pack a bit. Although, this morning I almost forgot my Korean Vocabulary/Textbook (bad idea to forget that). However, when I arrived at the airport and checked in, my suitcase was good despite me being worried about it. saaafe.

However, since I was bringing my guitar, I didn't know that I had to bring it into the terminal with me and gate check in. So now it looks like I have 3 carry ons. Guitar is HEAVY... mainly because of all the clothes I have in there to cushion the guitar. Oh! IF you are bringing your guitar, make sure to loosen up the strings. I read somewhere because of pressure or something, the string can break in the air and... that's not so good. >0<
The lady at the check-in counter also said, I had to pick up my luggage and then recheck it in? sighs... this is going to be stressful. Good thing I have that 5 hr layover in Pudong. Also, my cup noodles passed by security! So bringing cup noodles is a good thing! lol. I also brought granola bars. 5 hours!

This is the first time I'm flying somewhere on my own. When I went to Japan 3 years ago, I went with a bunch of other exchange students from Canada so I was not completely alone. This time I am pretty much on my own. Quite nervous about what's going to happen once I land in Shanghai. But I really need to calm down and not anxious because anxiety equals, panic equals mistakes...

Let's just hope for the best. ^0^
Karmie signing out. See you possibly when I have arrived in Shanghai.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Transfer and Communication

So, I arrived in Seoul after a long 14 hour trip. 14? maybe even 15. The layover in Shanghai was brutal to say the least. Well the flight to Shanghai itself was brutal as well. First, there was no tv like i'm used to on long flight travels. Second, My laptop wasn't fully charged, so I couldn't even use it for long as I was saving it for the layover. Third, Food/service on the plane wasn't that great. I got 2 meals and some sort of sandwich snack. Also, I told you yesterday about gate checking in my guitar? Well, that didn't work out well. At least they let me put it in the overhead compartment besides it being a full flight. However, I sat beside a really nice person who helped me. The flight attendants were not really good at understanding English, so the person beside me helped me ask the flight attendants what to do and etc. So the 12 hr flight to Shanghai was brutal with me fighting to sleep or staring into nothingness, attempt at conversation to the perso

Osaka! Takarazuka! Junsu?

So where do I begin? Last time I told you I was going to update in Japan but I ended up not doing that because on the flight to Japan, I made friends with the person beside me. We somehow connected in conversations during the flight over that, before she had to move on to Shanghai, thought we should chill together a little bit more. (Which reminds me that I need to e-mail her). Anyways, the flight over to Korea eventually was uneventful besides the turbulence in the beginning, well landing in Japan was very turbulent as well. The weather was not great at that time to say the least. Landed safely and I was happy to see that my friends had came to pick me up. Keeping it Korean style, decided to take a picture of my arrival/reunion. We caught up with each other on the way to the friend's place I'm staying at, and it really felt surreal for me to be back in Korea. It was nice and welcoming at the same time it was... yup I'm in Korea... kind of reaction. Since my plane lande

Now that I am home

I have been back home for 3 days already. It feels more like a week already because this stupid jetlag is not helping me at all. Today is the 11th already. It doesn't feel like it. Today? Yesterday? well on the 10th, I meant to wake up earlier... like 10 in the morning but instead, I woke at around 4 in the evening. Just in time for the dinner gathering my family had with my aunt and uncle that came by from the other side of Canada. It was nice to see them again but the whole time I was kicking myself in my head because I didn't wake up earlier. Now I am suffering from the consequences... It sucks because outside... there is light already.  I should go to bed because there is another family gathering I have to go to at 9:30am and I have an orientation thing that I have to go to with the volunteering thing I am doing this summer at 1pm... and I think I might have to drive for it. But here's the thing... I can't sleep.  Sleep~ please come to me now... at least for