There and Back Again: A Journey of Learning : There and Back Again: A Journey of Learning- Post 2: The Journey Part 1- Day 1

The journey began with an Uber ride to the airport. As it was an international flight, I needed to arrive 3 hours prior to departure. This means that despite my planning to book a late evening flight and get a ride after my husband or friends would be done with work, I failed. Upon arriving at the airport, I checked my bag and am told that I can also check my carry-on for free as it was small. I have also now been informed that my plane is delayed one hour. For whatever reason I do not receive updates on my flight to my phone nor my email from British Airways.

This, in theory, gives me time to figure out a few things...specifically how to get where I am staying once I arrive in the UK. I have been able to book a room at the Bear and Ragged Staff in Cumnor outside of Oxford in Oxfordshire UK. I will be arriving after 30 +hours of little to no sleep and because of the flight delay will be arriving in the UK not early afternoon as previously planned, but later.

Waiting at the airport for boarding the plane. To note, even through the ticket lists one gate, economy classes, like mine "world traveler class" have another gate.

I researched all of the ways to get from Heathrow airport to Oxford and have settled that the train would be the most direct way to avoid traffic, although this would also mean that I would need to travel to the center of London before heading to Oxford area. The other and cheaper option is the bus system but as I am juggling luggage, a new city, and no sleep I figured a train might be better.

Finally we bard the plane and take off. They serve us dinner on the plans, despite it being way past 9 pm now. Also to note, wine is included with dinner if you are of age. There are two options vegetarian or chicken. After this, I settle in to stay away as long as I can through the night. Luckily I have books with me and there are free movies to watch. I watch "Gifted", "Sense and Sensibility," and "Beauty and the Beast". In an effort to have little jet lag, I have decided to stay awake all night, when we land it will be somewhere between 2 and 3 pm in UK on July 6th and 6 am here back home. Luckily they serve us breakfast before we de-board the plane, however it has only been maybe 6 hour since dinner was served.

By the time we land, de-board the plane, go though border patrol, locate my bags, and get through customs it is rush hour. This fact has now greatly changed my travel plans as I was supposed to check in at 5 and have dinner reservations at 7 and still haven't figured out how to get from Oxford to Cumnor as I have no working phone nor internet access.

Please note, they tell you your phones won't work, and this is expected. You are able to link to wifi but depending on your phone carrier your phone may be locked and a SIM card would not work. My laptop is a Chromebook and therefore google also blocks you form connecting to unsafe networks so My laptop would not work in the airport either. So for 3+ hours I had landed safely but could not contact my family to let them know I had arrived.

As I had not communication devise, no access to a phone or the internet and no cash on hand ( I knew I forgot something) I had to make a different plan to get to my accommodations ASAP. So I used a taxi car service. This is expensive but I have my own private car that would carry my luggage and drop me directly at my Inn, Also this means that We were able to take a scenic route and circumnavigate traffic to get to Oxford quicker. This negotiation was made a a travel service desk within the airport.

Luckily this choice made up for lost time and while being late for my check-in I was on time for dinner. This dinner was amazing! I highly recommend you eat here if you ever find your way to the Oxford. area.