02/06/22:

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    I only did two things prior to going to the airport: packing, and taking pictures for CNN in the event I get lost. Missing White Woman Syndrome is real, and I wanted to have every advantage. If I was cute, maybe they'd give me more coverage.




Or... if I was a turnip...


Anyway, I'm digressing to the actual journal now. She remembers it best.
McCarran International Airport, gate A12 

   My bag is checked, my stuff is through security, and yet I'm anxious. Literally because my tickets, 2 out of 3, say I don't have a carry on, but I do! I do! Not to mention Spirit's carry on fit check seems so intimidatingly small, but I'm sure my bag can fit. It's always fit before. But the lady who warned us that we'd be paying at the gate if it didn't fit gave me so much anxiety. This is such a big trip for someone who is all by herself. If I can't hack the carry on, what business do I have trying to hack a whole country?

    And I'm wayyyyyy too early. There's a whole other flight at this gate before mine, which strikes me as embarrassing. Or, it would, if airports weren't lawless. Fuck, dude. How'd things go so smoothly and I still feel so goddamn stupid?
    
    I know that's just the anxiety talking. I know. I know I'll be okay. I just hate this feeling. I loved-- I still do-- airports. Airports are how I know I'm meant for travel.

    At least I have an outlet?

    See ya.
LAS → DTW

    I'm finally boarded, but the mix-up with my carry on almost made me cry, just because of how stressed I was about it. It got sorted relatively easily, but I still feel upset. I guess that's something I just have to shake off.

    The good news is my DTW → FLL ticket has a carry on already on it. That's the one ticket that's correct. So I don't have to worry about this same situation cropping up there, thank God. I just sincerely hope and pray that this situation doesn't happen in Peru. What are the Spanish words for "I paid for a carry on, it's just not showing up"? Duolingo, where are you when I need you???

    That's what I get for spending 1011 days on Latin, and then suddenly swapping to Spanish when I realized I didn't know as much as I thought.

    If it does happen, I know the Spanish words for "Do you speak English?" so it might not be that bad. Just embarrassing. All they do is look at my last name, my tan, and then tsk-tsk under their breath about how my parents failed or something. Hello! We know they failed! Move on to this century please.

    Good news: I have a window seat. I have a window seat on every flight to Peru. Isn't that cool?!

    Bad news: the tray tables are tiny. That's what I get for flying Spirit. But that's small potatoes. I'll close it and you and catch some Zzzs.

    Night.

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