The big day... 02.02.2020

Due to the previous farewell party, the night from Saturday to Sunday was very short. The night ended at 4 o'clock to prepare everything for the journey and the flight on time. When I left the house shortly before 5 o'clock with my mother and a few friends, it was a very strange feeling to know that I would not see my home for the next 6 months.

The almost 4-hour drive fortunately went without any traffic jams and other unforeseen incidents, aside from a little rain.

We arrived at Hamburg Airport around 9 o'clock and started unloading my suitcases and looking for the right terminal. Since my flight didn't depart until 10:40, we still had enough time to calmly check in the suitcases that shouldn't be taken into the cabin.

And then... the chaos began.

An airport employee informed me that apparently I had no more time and the boarding of my flight had already started. This was followed by a rushed and tearful farewell from my companions and then I went through passport control and security...

There I had to unpack and rearrange my things several times and finally pack them again, while the security personnel were anything but helpful or friendly. Then it was time to run. And it felt like 5 kilometers until I FINALLY reached the line for my plane. There I was told that all the storage space in the cabin was already occupied and my small suitcase also had to go into the cargo hold. That meant I had about 2 minutes to fish my laptop and all other electronic devices out of my suitcase in the aisle and take them with me onto the plane. And of course I hadn't thought of packing a bag or anything in the suitcase beforehand. So I had 5 different things in my arms individually and had to make sure I didn't lose anything.

It got a little better on the plane because I had a nice older couple next to me who told me about their entire vacation in Hamburg and talked to me when I didn't feel well due to turbulence.

I landed at London Gatwick at 11:20 and waited for my host father in the arrivals hall.

As it turned out later, he had also been waiting for me. Not 5 seats away from each other... We were practically sitting next to each other and didn't realize it... :)

After we noticed, we greeted each other and made our way to the car. When we arrived there, I didn't think about it and got into the driver's side... of course that had to happen to me... I felt a little stupid in the first moment, but then we could laugh about it ;D

From Gatwick Airport, it takes about 40 minutes to Orpington. My home for the next six months.

On site, I met my host kids and the host mother for the first time. Because of my arrival, we all went out for pizza together so that we could all get to know each other a little.

I have to say, I couldn't be happier with my host family. The parents are incredibly nice and helpful and try to do everything to make me feel comfortable, and they succeed very well. The two girls are adorable and also very kind. We all quickly became comfortable with each other and everyone helps me as much as they can when I have a problem or don't understand something.

What a day!