My First Solo Travel Experience

When I imagined myself navigating an airport for the first time by myself, I always thought it would be smooth sailing. I would get to the airport two hours early, check my bag and get my boarding pass, navigate the security line, and make it to my gate with enough time to stop at a Starbucks. Although that is exactly what I did, I forgot to anticipate that oftentimes there are unpredictable elements that are out of my control. Such as a plane with no air conditioning. 

Spending time in the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

The Original Plan

Last weekend I went to the FSU vs. UNC college football game in Tallahassee, Florida with my boyfriend and our families. This was a weekend I had been looking forward to for months and I planned my itinerary out to a T. My plan was to fly out of Raleigh, North Carolina on Thursday at 3 p.m. and land in Tallahassee, Florida by 7:45 p.m., with one connecting flight in Charlotte, North Carolina. I would spend a couple days in Tallahassee before my direct flight back to Raleigh on Sunday afternoon.

Facing Reality

 After waiting one hour at my gate, I boarded the plane to find out there was no air conditioning. Myself and the other passengers had to deplane after 20 minutes. After 1 hour I found out that this flight was delayed to the point where I would miss my connecting flight in Charlotte. After nearly getting on a new plane and getting stranded in Charlotte, I rescheduled my travel plans for the following morning. My new plan? Flying at 5 a.m. to Orlando, Florida with a connecting flight out of Miami, Florida.

Grabbing an authentic Cuban breakfast at Café Versailles in the Miami International Airport.

My parents picked me up at the Orlando airport on Friday morning, where we waited 2 hours for my bag to arrive after being accidentally sent to Charlotte. We then drove 4 hours to Tallahassee, finally getting there around 6 p.m. on Friday. Nearly 24 hours after I was supposed to get there. I was really upset that I lost so much time, especially now that I live so far from my boyfriend, family and friends.

Finally getting my bag at the Orlando International Airport.

What I Learned

I am a big believer in the concept that “everything happens for a reason.” Whether I find myself in an ideal or unideal situation, there always seems to be something to learn from. Instead of complaining about how awful this travel experience was, I chose to find the silver linings and focused on the lessons I learned, such as:

1. It is important to be your own advocate and remain composed in times of stress, especially when you’re by yourself traveling across the country.

   
   

2. Be thankful for companies that prioritize customer service and accommodate for inconveniences. Technical difficulties are out of anyone’s control, why complain about companies who make things right for their customers?

   
   

3. It’s important to cherish time with your family, especially when you get to have an unexpected road trip with your parents who live in a different state. 

The Best 36 Hours

My parents, boyfriend and I in Doak Campbell Stadium.

I got to Tallahassee 24 hours later than planned. I was there for a total of 36 hours. I can confidently say that I made the most of the little time that I had. I was able to create more memories with loved ones and watch my alma mater play my current school in a game that I love. Instead of being upset, I lost time, I intentionally made the decision to make the most of every moment and ended up having one of the best days and a half of my life.