I recently went on a trip to Berlin, Germany from Dulles International Air Port with the already fear of flying on planes. When I was younger, my grandmother told me that when we flew to Florida, I was so excited and wanted to look outside of the window. A lot has changed since I was five years old.
I like to think that most of the reason I am absolutely terrified of planes is because of all the terrorist attacks and planes disappearing, but it is much more than that. I like to say that if God wanted humans to fly, he would have given us wings, and I will stand by that. Some people love flying and looking out of the window. As soon as the plane started moving, I started crying and screaming, "close the window!" I was not having it.
The plane took off and the two people sitting with me felt my fear. Literally, I turned their hands purple. I continued to cry for a good 15 minutes and the person sitting behind me-- who flies planes-- kept rubbing my back and telling me that I will be okay. I distracted myself with the multitude of movie options provided on the screens that are attached to the back of the seats, but every time we hit turbulence, I was not happy. Those seat belt signs would come on, but little did they know, I never took mine off. No way, I am not being sucked out of an airplane like on Lost.
When I used the bathroom on the plane, I think it is the fastest I have ever gone in my life. I went in, did my business and when I flushed and it made the suction noise, I said "oh no" to myself, washed my hands as fast as I could and ran back to my seat.
At one point after we had dinner, which I learned airplane food is the worst and it makes me sick, I had a glass of wine because the people I was with said it might help calm my nerves. Anyone who knows me knows that if I can have a glass of red wine without having to pay for it, I am all in. Red wine also makes me sleepy, so I thought it might help me pass out if not calm my nerves. I had the wine. Hours later, I was still awake trying to find a comfortable position to sleep. The people I sat with and I even tried laying on each other. After none of that worked, I listened to classical music and put my head on my food tray and slept. For about 15 minutes.
The worst part about the entire plane experience was that plane was not the only one I would be on. We had a layover on a tiny plane going from France to Berlin. There was so... much... turbulence that, yes, I cried basically the entire time, but I also got plane sick.
On the way back, I thought everything would be better since I have already gone through the process. Oh, I was wrong. Take off and landing, I cried on both planes. I didn't sleep at all on the way back and I was next to people in my group that, not to be mean, I wasn't very fond of.
The next time I travel anywhere, I am either knocking myself out to be on the plane or I will row my own boat to my destination. Bring on the monsoons. Oh, by the way, I clapped every time we landed. I would like to stay on land thank you.
