Going on an international adventure all by yourself sounds like a dream. But, the first time, as most first times are, is always intimidating. Getting your boarding pass ready, making sure you have your passport and keeping your sanity through security (which, by the way, is more intense in my opinion for international travel versus domestic) can all make flying solo internationally seem difficult and tiresome. And, not to mention, the hours-on-end layovers if you have connecting flights to your destination and the issue of communication as you test out speaking the language of your visiting country (unless you're a native/ skilled speaker). However, once you get used to it, you can make it into one of the best adventures you will have. Here is a personal take on how it is to fly solo internationally for the first time, as told by one of Studio Ghibli's masterpieces, Spirited Away.
The luggage is packed. The taxi is here. And you are on your way to the airport! Let the adventure begin!
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The check-in counter!
Looking at your luggage as it goes away, farther and farther away along the conveyor belt:
Finally! Free of all that heavy luggage until your final destination!
Security Check!
Ah, the bustle of security as you hurriedly make it through the scanners and security personnel, all in barefoot. At least you'll get some down time while waiting for the gates to open at the terminal, right?
Finding the terminal and boarding the airplane!
Running to the terminal like:
As those terminal doors open and you go through the connecting tunnel to board the aircraft, you know what's next after all this hardship and waiting.
Release the endless stream of entertainment!
The only time you can watch all the movies you want and not feel guilty or get yelled at afterwards! It's almost Netflix and chill, except there is usually no ice cream and the leg space is tight. But, you do get blankets!
In the rare case ice cream is provided:
The infamous airplane food.
I'll admit I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to airplane food. If anything, it pretty much depends on how lucky you get that day. (As a side-note, whenever they offer you drinks such as juice and water, take it!)
Seating and sitting.
How I feel (and how my legs feel) most of the time after the first hour of flight travel:
Yeah. Economy class seating is pretty hard on the legs, so make sure you get up and walk time to time, especially if your total flight time is somewhere near 20 hours (unless you want to stay squished up like Chihiro here)!
Oh, and there's the whole awkward moment of getting up when you end up in the middle seat or the window seat and are surrounded by strangers:
Discovering sleep in the skies.
Didn't get enough sleep last semester? Well, here's your chance to catch up on some snooze if you haven't already! This is also a pretty good alternative if all the movies available aren't to your liking. Oh, yes, and discovering sleep now is especially good if you don't want to become jet-lagged later.
Connecting flights + layovers = Shopping internationally.
What better way to spend the time waiting than looking around all the malls and shopping stalls they have within the airport? (Hopefully, it won't be as empty as the streets of the spirit world during day time)
Your final destination...has arrived!
Now the only remaining thing to do is to execute your itinerary and all the grand plans you have!
Hopefully, flying solo internationally doesn't faze you anymore. So go out there and enjoy traveling like a real adventurer!
