Day One!

Ok, so…I am finally going to commit to blogging my time in America. Partly because I can’t be bothered to repeat the same stories to different people and partly because…it’s good writing practice!

I AM FINALLY IN THE US OF A!!!!

I’ve been waiting for years to say that and I wasn’t really sure how I felt about this big move until the day came and I was like: SHIT I’m really going!!
The ‘rents decided to feck off on their holidays a week before my departure (not mad…much!) so I thought the airport good-bye would be less emotional….WRONG. My sister broke down at the final good-bye and I had to make my way through airport security a snotty, teary mess! But, it was to be expected!

Ok, so the journey… As I was waiting to board at Manchester airport I saw a troop of men walking past, one of them pushed his fellow traveller, so he was nearly forced to travel up an escalator and make his own way back. The group cheered: “Weeaaay!” and patted each other on the back. Ah… a final snippet of English male interaction!
The plane journey was a tad non-descript…feeling tied from the early rise and drained from crying, I slept for 6 of the 8 hours and woke up to some food… pizza with rugola and mozzarella and some bonafide Italian gelato. Things were getting better already!

When I arrived at Atlanta I looked for the correct boarding gate and made my way to C30… The monitor said ‘Charleston, West Virginia’ and I immediately started to panic, internally of course. There was no-one to work this one out for me and I hate asking people anything! Just then an airport worker (quite a handsome one if you ask me) offered to help me and found that I was at his gate, gate C36 which was next door to a smoking area…hooraah!
I was sat reading my book when a tannoy went out: “Can a Miss Giovanna Lucarelli please make her way to the boarding desk.”

Shit.
I made my way over, sheepishly.

“I just need some contact details please. Your cell number, Facebook name or e-mail address.”
Ha. I was shocked, relieved and impressed all the same time! I think I’m going to like America after all. When you’ve been up since 6am, been through an 8 hour flight and stink like an ashtray, and someone still wants your number…you can’t help but be flattered.

I finally arrived at Birmingham, Alabama and made my way to the Holiday Inn for a much-needed shower and some rest in a HUGE bed. Tomorrow I would become an official UA student!

“ROLL TIDE!” (I’ll explain that later)