The City of Angels

Once Around the Sun. For those of you who don't know (which, according to a book I recently read, a lot of the world doesn't), that's one year. 365 days. If we're being literal, that isn't how long I will be in American Samoa. I'll only be gone for 11 months but “11/12ths Around the Sun” just didn't sound as catchy. Neither did “91.66% Around the Sun”.

The line actually comes from the film GATTACA (all caps just for you Genetics nerds). For those of you who aren’t familiar with the film, Ethan Hawke’s character, who is about to travel into space for a year, is talking to his love interest (Uma Thurman) when he says, “A year is a long time.” To this, she replies, “Not so long. Just once around the sun.” To be honest, I’ve never actually seen the end of the film but I absolutely love the implications of this quote. A lot can happen in a year. I’m both excited and worried about what this year will bring but, in the scheme of things, in comparison to an entire lifetime, to humanity’s existence, to the existence of the universe, one year is almost insignificant. The way I see it, whether or not this year is absolutely amazing or the most difficult thing I’ve ever done, and it could be both, it’s just one year. As much as I’m going to miss my family and friends, I’ll be back before I know it. My plan is to try and enjoy every minute of it, take nothing for granted, and take as many pictures as possible.

Enough about my feelings and nerdy obsession with movies and quotes (two things I guarantee will appear in the blog constantly), on to life away from home.

Currently, I am sitting in my hotel room at the Four Points Sheraton in Los Angeles after a rather lengthy flight on a Boeing 737-800 from Chicago Midway Airport (which, by the way, is named after the Battle of Midway and NOT the fact that it is midway through a flight to California. A mistake I made 9 years ago).  Interesting fact, the plane I was on is one of the newest planes in Southwest’s fleet. I must say, it is quite the plane. It even has that new airplane smell. I don’t actually know what new airplanes are supposed to smell like but I imagine that that was it.  

It’s a little weird to think that, only 20 hours ago, I finished packing and went to bed; only 14 hours ago, I woke up for the second time (was so excited/nervous that I woke up at 4am…whoops); and 10 hours ago, I boarded my flight from Boston to Chicago. What’s worse is that the traveling isn’t even over. Tomorrow morning at 10:40am I get on a plane to Hawaii and, 14 hours later, I’ll land in American Samoa.  It is going to be quite the trip. I only hope that I’m as ready for it as everyone seems to think I am.

Before I end this post, I just wanted to say two things. First, once I land in American Samoa, it might be awhile before I have any internet or phone service. So, please be patient. Trust me, I want to talk to you too. Secondly, thank you to everyone who helped me to get here. Whether you’re a member of my family, a friend, a teacher, or a mentor, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. I miss you all very much.