Student Bloggers

The beginning of my journey to Scotland was actually quite difficult and challenging. My fellow classmates and I all had a flight from Newark on January 9th but before that I had a flight from Buffalo to New Jersey the day before.

I purposely planned a day early due to winter weather or any other delays and very glad that I did. My flight first got delayed and canceled so I got another flight but that flight got delayed two hours. I arrived at the airport around one and finally got on a plane at seven.

On Tuesday, I arrived at the airport at noon and could not check my bag until two so I waited in the main lobby of the airport. At two I was able to check my bag and go through security but, unfortunately I got pulled aside. This was not worrying to me because, it actually happens every time. I have a Polaroid and film that I use and to protect the film from the x-ray machine, I use a lead bag for protection. I inform the workers about this every time but, they do not care and have me put it through the machine. So every time I get pulled aside during security and by now I am use to it.

Our flight was scheduled to leave at 6:15pm but got delayed. About two hours into our flight, we were told that there was an hydraulics problem and they decided to turn around and land in JFK. Needless to say no one was happy and it was not till about one in the morning that Delta got us a hotel and we arrived there. As well, they kept our luggage at the airport.

Now on Wednesday, January 10th, we were rescheduled at the same time so following hotel rules, arrived at JFK at about noon. Then guess what, the flight was delayed! We eventually got on but, we were delayed two more hours due to paperwork.

We arrived in Amsterdam on Thursday, January 11, and due to our flight being delayed, we miss our connecting flight to Edinburgh. We waited in Amsterdam for about seven hours and then our flight got delayed.

Through all this we managed to arrive in Edinburgh but, not our suitcases. Only two of the girls suitcases arrived and the rest were no where to be found. Our luggages finally arrived on January 13th at the university and words cannot describe how happy I was to wear fresh, clean clothes.

Though all possible problems that could go wrong did occur, I finally arrived at the university and I am loving it so far. After my crazy experience getting here, I feel well prepared for any other traveling issues and that I am ready to settle into life here.