journeying back

Well, I'm back in Boston. My trip out was fairly uneventful, aside from the stupidity of airline workers. At the Sioux Falls airport, while Dad was helping me check in, the girl at the desk tried to tell me that because the plane was a small 50-seater, my violin would have to be checked planeside, meaning that it would make the journey to Minneapolis in the cargo bay. Well, I was already stressed about leaving home again and couldn't stop myself from bursting into tears right there. The girl left, and Dad assured me that she must be mistaken. Of course she must--all the major airlines make allowances for musical instruments, which need much better care that would be afforded in the cargo bay, hence claiming it as my carry-on in the first place. As I was bording another airline employee tried to tell me the same thing. I told her that I knew it would fit (almost crying this time as well), and she asked me if I was going to not take the flight if it didn't. She said that I could try to put it on the plane, but I would most likely have to come back out and check it. Yeah right. When I stepped onto the plane, all the flight attendant told me was that the instrument would have to go in the overhead, and my backpack would have to go under my seat. Thank you--that was what I had intended to do all along. And of course it fit, with inches to spare in length and plenty of room for coats or small bags around it. I think the airline workers who stay in the terminal need to have a better understanding of the planes and policies before they try to freak out their passengers so much.

My seatmate was an old weathered farmer on his way to Hawaii. We only talked a little, but he told me to stay in school and to see Niagra Falls some day.

On my second flight there was no space issue, and my neighbor didn't feel like talking, so I got a lot of reading done. And when we reached Boston, we had to circle in a holding pattern for a few minutes before we had an open runway to land on. And, upon leaving the terminal, I had the first taxi ride of my life. It was weird, because the driver was on the phone the whole time (using a hands-free earpiece, don't worry) and talking in what may or may not have been French. He was also singing, and that part sounded the most like French. It was odd. And apparently, if you don't tip the driver you may have to get your bags out of the trunk yourself. Oh well, at least it was better than dragging all my luggage through the subway system.

It took me until Friday night to actually get my things unpacked, but I'm all settled back in now--I even started organizing my desk!

Also, I have a new job. I interviewed for and was offered a position at the Beatley Library (Simmons campus) circulation desk. The schedule was already set, with just a few holes, so i'm only filling one shift a week, but it's five more hours of pay every week, plus library experience to put on my resume. I figure that's worth it. Plus, I should be able to keep working there for the summer, which would be nice if nothing better works out.

And guess what! One of the new students this semester is from South Dakota! She grew up in Vermillion, and went to Nebraska for undergrad. She's even in the archives track! Can you tell I'm excited to have someone else around who understands what the midwest is really like and knows what I'm talking about when I bring up Sioux Falls. Having Xave (short for Xaviera--her parents are from Chile) around makes me feel better about finding friends in this new group of students.

-Kim