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Entry, Life as a Vet Student
Tia Chambers, Ross University
After living on a tiny island for nearly eight months, my time to visit home finally arrived. I spent the night before my departure checking and double checking my luggage to be sure that I had not forgotten to pack anything. The list I used to pack was one I had been working on since I first arrived on the island. Everything is expensive here in St. Kitts, whether it be buying things or shipping packages to or from the States, so this list was imperative to me.
The morning of my departure, I had a friend drive me to the airport, which is literally right across the street from my apartment. If the road I lived on was paved, I could have walked my intended checked bag, carry on and personal item all the way there while only breaking a light sweat. I arrived a whole two hours before my plane departed and checked my bag without a hitch, except having to wait in line for about forty minutes to get to the counter. Only another hour to wait after getting through security and I was home free, but I wouldn't consider it done until I had landed in Charlotte. After all, so many things could keep me from home: malfunctioning departing aircraft, overbooked flight, random unforeseen issues...they happen...
We lifted off from St. Kitts en route to Charlotte, NC as the sun began to sink into the ocean...Yet, none of them did, and inside, I was giggling like a school girl as we made our descent to my awaiting connecting flight. The city lights of Charlotte, North Carolina sparkled down below us like the stars had fallen out of the sky. I started taking it in, as much as I could, with the lights. I stepped off the plane and felt a slight chill in the air while making my way to the terminal. I smiled instead of regretting that I had failed to wear the appropriate winter attire.
It was 10:30pm and my eyes were droopy. My clothes were wrinkled and my hair was disheveled, but I didn't care. I was in America. Only fifty-four minutes and a few sleepy head bobs later, I was reaching for my carry on in the stow compartment and making my way down to baggage claim. It may seem trivial, but I couldn't express to you how emotional it was to see Brian, my fiancé, standing at the bottom of the escalator with an Ale-8-One and a coat and scarf for me on either side of his outstretched arms.
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