The Art of Traveling

Flight is delayed out of Toronto so I have some time to sit and reflect on the days events.  I am currently sitting at the gate in Toronto watching the NHL finals - it's true what they say about Canadians and hockey.  I'm not sure which is better, watching the actual game or watching the people watching the game.

Anyways. Ironic that this is called the "art of traveling" as this is an art that I have NOT mastered at this point in my life.  No matter how many times I go through security, no matter how many times I have to disassemble my careful packing, and no matter how many times I have to take off my shoes - I still get frazzled when it all comes shooting out at you.  Especially today - I had roughly 50 grey tubs with my various belongings in them and as I'm trying to collect my things I have a TSA agent making fun of how much random stuff I have in the tubs.  Just what I needed...
However, for all of you Denver travelers I have made an incredible discovery.  There is security on the WALKWAY to the other terminals.  There was NO line and basically no waiting.  It was glorious.  So, I recommend it, definitely beat the lines of the usual security points.

As I was sitting at the gate in Denver that nervousness that had either been non existent or I had successfully been ignoring definitely began to set in.  But, in looking back on all of my travels (moving to Denver, going to visit Teresa in Colombia, going to Australia, moving to Madison) it's always a familiar feeling.  It's gotten to the point now where I know it's ridiculous and I know it will pass once I'm there - and yet I still get nervous and I still shed some nervous tears.
The flight out of Denver was an easy one - Air Canada provided us with little tvs in every seat (SCORE) so I could watch Modern Family AND (wait for it...) NEVER SAY NEVER THE JUSTIN BIEBER MOVIE.  There were tons of options and yet, this is what I settled on.  Oddly enough, I fully plan to finish it (I ran out of time) once I get on this next flight.  Interesting kid, hate the haircut and most of his music, but interesting nonetheless.
I did look moderately bizarre at one point as in my state of nervousness pretty much anything can set off the tears - so of course the stupid teenage girls in this movie crying set off my tears so I'm pretty sure the guy sitting next to me thought I was a Bieber fanatic who couldn't contain her excitement or love.

Thankfully I was able to sneak a sandwich through customs and eat it at the gate here in Toronto, that has definitely helped even out some of this emotional roller coaster. Hopefully a relaxing, quiet plane ride will allow me to sleep some and further calm down these emotions.  I am looking forward to exploring Santiago some tomorrow, but a nap will definitely be in order.

There are some very sweet little Spanish speaking girls sitting near, speaking in very fast Spanish (then again, all Spanish is fast to me, so it might be normal Spanish, or even slow, what do I know?) and I can't help but think that if these little ones can learn it that there must be hope for me.  Granted, it's what they're raised around and all of that so this thought really doesn't mean much, but it's still moderately comforting.
As I get more and more nervous, I am starting to hope more and more that my host family will speak some English.  Not a ton, but some might calm these nerves down a bit.

Well, those are really all the thoughts I have for now.  My tired, overwhelmed brain is done for now.  Will write more soon once I'm there.  Hopefully I'll be able to conquer technology and post pictures as well - as soon as I have some to post!