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I finally got a little time to update you on the first few days of my trip. I guess the only good place to start would be at the beginning in Pittsburgh Airport.
I made it through check-in and security despite my baggage being overweight and breaking my carry on and arrived at my gate three hours early ( a little over enthusiastic maybe). This soon turned into four hours early and then into four and a half as my flight got delayed more and more. We finally departed 15 minutes after our scheduled landing time. Then, the plane that we were boarding was so small they took all luggage from us to be returned after we got off. When the gentleman beside me shared that he had missed his connecting flight to Germany, I was sure I was next. The only comfort that customer service offered me was that "many flights are delayed" and it was possible that my "group members would also be delayed and they would hold the flight to Johannesburg
Luckily, I ran off the plane and to my gate thirty minutes before take off. A nervousness finally hit me when I found out that I had been issued the wrong boarding pass and had to get a new one. I got this done quickly and headed down the ramp onto the plane where I was recognized by my a fellow Valpo student. I have never been so relieved.
The seventeen hour flight was more enjoyable than expected. Between the company of the people in my group, the entertainment system on the plane and the constant flow of food I kept busy (the time that I was awake). Before I knew it I was lugging off all my items into the incredible airport of Johannesburg.
It was a group effort to make it out of the airport and I must say I was the weak link, but we finally met Janessa, our resident advisor, and Nespect a professor and guide for Augsburg College's Center for Global Education (where I will be attending school). Going through the doors we were hit with a surprisingly cold air! We piled into our vans and headed to our homes for the next week. It's called St. Peters Place—an old brick building with dorm style rooms, a center court yard, library, and dining area.
That night, we settled in with an extremely intense game of "mafia" and I was happy to find that our group felt very natural and we seemed to "click" immediately.
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