I’m turning into my father…

Because I’ve never met a stranger! After the family (minus mom) dropped me at the gate I met a nice woman from Jersey who talked to me awhile about crying in airports – assuring me that everyone has done it and that nobody cares. At first I didn't think I wanted to talk but it was nice to not let everything fester. Really nice. I answered the usual questions about where’d I be going and what I’d be studying (like I’ll be doing any of that!) and realized…OH MY GOSH…I’m going to do that right now! It’s no longer the future but the present – and I couldn’t be more excited! Once we got on the plane I sat down next to a little Italian woman who was flying back to Naples for 4 days to help her mother-in-law get permanent US residency. Not glamorous but she was wonderful, and she gave me gum when my ears popped.

So, all that to say, if the last 4 hours are at all indicative of the next 4 months I’m going to meet a lot of cool people and end up with a lot of new friends.

And yes mom, this means I’ve made it to Newark.