HOME!

When I last posted I was sleeping over in the Florence airport...but I can happily tell you that I am now posting from my very own bedroom at home!

This weekend was probably the most stressful three days I have ever experienced.  Sleeping over the airport was just the beginning of the journey home.  All three of my new flights were delayed AND in order to get on them....I had to throw out more than half of my belongings to even be allowed to check my bag.  Not only that, but the weight limits changed with the airlines I was flying with, so both times I had to adjust the weight of my bag.  I was charged 150 in euro to get my luggage checked on my final flights home.  That was AFTER being forced to throw out 9 kilos worth of clothes, books and shoes.  They wouldn't let me donate it.  They made me throw it all away.

It's just stuff.

But it still sucked.  I was pulled aside for not one, but two random security checks...watched my stuff be rifled through, my laptop be opened, I got felt up by some security guards.  Flight after flight delayed...waiting and waiting alone in airports.  Between exhaustion and frustration and helplessness....I couldn't even cry like I wanted to.  I just had to wait.

Once in a while I would meet some really amazing strangers though.  I really think they were angels.  Always when I needed a friend the most....someone kind and caring would show up.  I don't believe any of that is coincidence.

It was not fun.  But I would do it all again.  Home has never felt so wonderful.  I feel like I can breathe easy again just being near my family.  And I have some serious cuddle time to make up for with my puppy dog.

I just wanted to say thank you to every single person who sent prayers or positive energy.  YOU brought me home.  I was one of the lucky ones.  I made it out of Europe just in time.  It's all because of you guys.  The power of collective thought, energy and prayer is a very real thing to me.  Thank you so much for thinking of me.  I am honored to have such a beautiful network of family, friends...wonderful, thoughtful people.

I love you so much.  So blessed to be home :)

Have a beautiful holiday and a happy new year.  Buon Natale <3

Love, Hayden

well then....

So, today wasn't exactly what it was supposed to be.  Had everything gone to plan I would be home, in my bed, sleeping, and SUPER happy.

But I'm rolling with the punches because life is definitely not that simple.

I woke up at 4am to make the shuttle to the airport this morning.  Only to check my email and find that my first flight had been cancelled.  One panic attack later and I had Mom and Dad on skype, freaking out.  My mom was the biggest trooper on earth.  I had no way to make phone calls so she spent the ENTIRE night (your time) trying to figure out what the hell to do.  Only to be told that we had to figure it out ourselves and that it wasn't likely I could get a flight for the next 4 days!

Essentially, I had to get to the airport and fight to change my flight.  It was not a happy day.  I dragged my luggage to the train station in the snow.  Waited in a 45 minute line for a taxi.  All with many other people in the same situation.  Everyone is stuck.  Apparently, most of Europe is on lockdown with this snow we had just yesterday.  (On a happy note, it hasn't snowed in Florence for YEARS....Who can say that they got to see the Duomo covered in snow!?  Beautiful!  Inconvenient....but BEAUTIFUL.)

Luckily, I met all the right angels today. After waiting in the most anxiety ridden crowd for almost four hours at the airport....I caught my one and only chance out of here.  Tomorrow I'm flying to Madrid, spending the night and then coming home on Monday!

Since the taxi situation is no good right now, I'm currently camping out in the Florence airport with fellow stranded students.  A lot of flights have been cancelled tonight so I'm still a little nervous, but I'm feeling hopeful that everything will be okay by tomorrow morning when I leave.

Today was definitely a learning experience to say the least.  Half the time I wanted to cry or just give up. The other half I felt empowered and independent.  I can do this.  I've been traveling NON STOP for the last three and half months.  I can do this.  I tried to put things into perspective to gain some patience.....Waiting in line for 3.5 hours to get a plane ticket home is a million times better than waiting that long or even longer to see a doctor or to get your child decent medical treatment.  Waiting is something I know nothing of.

Fingers crossed.  <3

Love, Hayd

leave your mark then let it go....

I've been packing and cleaning out my little room in our apartment.  Even with the shotty heater and broken window latch, the weird mattress and the freezing floors....I have loved this place.  It has been home to the changes in me.  This has been the most incredible, life changing, hopeful, wonderful, scary, fantastic, epic journey.  I'm almost annoyed with the word 'thankful' - it just doesn't seem anywhere near enough.

Even though it is the end of my time here, I don't feel like I'm closing a chapter of my life.  I feel like someone has supplied me with plenty of blank pages, a brand new perspective on life and just said, "Get at it, kid."

I'm on it.

Here is a giant mish mash of just some of my favorite memories....some you'll recognize, others are new:

Oh, this beautiful life.  

My next mission : pay it forward.  Pay it allllll forward.

See you state side..... Love you so.

Love, Hayden Elizabeth