Finally free...

So, I'm finally in Raleigh, North Carolina! I've been pretty busy since Sunday, so that's why I haven't been online much to talk to people. Anyway, thought I'd run through what I've been up to this week, beginning with the flights...

Sunday - Woke up at 7am, well, stayed awake until 7am because I couldn't sleep. I was so excited, and I was also rather anxious about the flights, and the duration of them. I got breakfast, and did some last minute checking that I had everything I needed, then got changed and ready for the trip to the airport. It felt so weird driving the usual route into Belfast, knowing that it would be my last time going on these roads for at least a year. My dad and I realised that, again, we left far too early and that I would have to wait for a while in Belfast International, as if my 7+ hr journey and 5 hr wait in the connecting airport wasn't enough...but, actually, I didn't have to wait too long at International.

Check-in seemed to be a bit awkward, I had to put in all the details of where I was living etc, when thinking that checking into customs when I arrived would be enough for the US to know regarding where I was staying. Anyway, I wasn't really in the mood to complain about it.

I said my goodbyes to my dad, and went through security, where some woman proceeded to run through my laptop with a wipe...I assume it was to check for anything suspicious, but why would a wipe pick that up? Anyway, I appreciated the clean she gave it regardless. It didn't seem too long before I was boarding my plane, and the beginning of my journey began.

The flight itself actually went by pretty fast, Continental had some amazing screen on the seats of planes, where you could play loads of games, including in-flight Texas Hold Em, with other people on the plane! Such a cool idea. So, I had plenty of stuff to keep me occupied. I wasn't so keen on my row neighbours, both old people who refused to move an inch of their legspace when I needed past them both (I had the window seat), so getting up to move around was frustrating, so I only got up once the whole flight. I tried to get a little sleep, but I didn't get any despite trying. I guess flights and sleep just aren't for me.

I kept the blind over the window most of the time, but touching into America, I decided to open it and it really was a wonderful view...going into these crazy mountains and very rural areas into suddenly hitting downtown New York and then Newark, before touching down. Seeing the Empire State Building brought a smile and sense of excitement to my already tired face. Customs and immigration control was a joke - the line and general process lasted well over an hour, when I expected it to last maybe for 20 minutes max. After getting my bags, I then went to the connecting flights line, which was shorter but pretty confusing. They asked where I was going, and asked me to drop my bags off at this very dodgy looking area with other workers - they said they would handle it. This had me panicking the whole time at the airport, and on the plane, that I would never see them again and some random guy could have stolen them.

Anyway, I was meant to meet a friend of mine from 5/8, but unfortunately I couldn't leave the airport and had to proceed through security, so I had no company, again. But, it was OK. I kinda got used to being on my own at that point. Luckily my time flew by pretty quick, where I ate 2 HUGE slices of Pizza from a place called Sbarros, and then went to the "Caliente" Mexican bar and grill, and got my first alcoholic beverage, a Heineken Light! It was actually really nice, and very easily drunk.

I also got to watch my first "game" on TV - Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers. Was fun to watch - but the amount of ads on were ridiculous, but a lot of them were hilarious too. So, this also killed some time. My flight boarded, and I was yet again stuck beside an old person, this time one who was clearly drunk and kept trying to swallow ice cubes but failed so many times, to the point of serious aggravation. The flight itself seemed so short, and then I was off the plane, and finally seen Colette, who I hadn't seen in almost 5 months!

It was so odd that I was finally in America, and seeing the crazy highways was exciting and interesting at the same time. It made me think that I will have take a long time to adjust to the roads here when I learn to drive.

Since arriving, I've been taking it easy, mostly...visited some of Colette's family, and went to a few malls. I still haven't fully recovered from jet-lag yet, but I'm getting there. I've also re began my addiction to Mountain Dew! One thing that frustrates me is that prices in stores say, $19.99, but when you get to the check-out, it costs an extra few dollars because of tax, but I don't understand why they can't put the tax included price on too...like in the UK, because then you know exactly how much you're paying.

I haven't trekked it to a bar yet, so I can't say what bars here are like, but I'm sure I'll be able to review that pretty soon!

I'll update this whenever I have something to update it with.

Iain