Photo courtesy of Ailys Toledo/The Beacon
Ailys Toledo/Columnist
I knew from the moment I booked my flight that traveling to my destination was not going to be pleasant. Perhaps this predetermined mindset is what set the tone for my flight. I was set to depart from Miami International Airport at 5:35 p.m. on May 18 and arrive in Madrid the following day at 11:35 a.m. It goes without saying that although I was looking forward to arriving in Spain, I was not looking forward to the nine hour flight.
I do not have a fear of flying nor do I have acrophobia. Being short and petite has its advantages sometimes—I can fit into tight squeezes easily and still feel comfortable. This is a great asset to have while flying because seating space is quite limited and the restrooms are also tiny. I do not like flying simply because I get restless easily. It does not take long for me to start getting antsy, especially while waiting to get somewhere. I was that child that would pester my parents with, “Are we there yet?” every half an hour while on long car rides. The longest flight I had ever been on before this trip was to California, which is a four to five hour plane ride. What was I going to do for a whole nine hours?
I prepared for this upcoming dilemma quite thoroughly. I decided to make a list of all the things that could keep me entertained while I was on the flight. The first thing I did was update my Kindle: I bought “The Great Gatsby” and “Travels with Charley.” I wanted to read books that would force me to view things that are aesthetically pleasing in various ways. One of the lessons I really wanted to implement while I was in Spain was to be more attentive and aware of the beauty that surrounds me at all times. So often I feel like I walk into a building or sit in a park and I do not even notice the lovely art close to me.
Another thing I did to prepare for this torturous trip was update my iPod with new music. I figured music would be my best tool for relaxation whenever I started to feel some cabin fever. I downloaded songs about passion, love and having the time of your life to get me in the travel mood. I even tried to include some variety in my playlist. I do not usually listen to Spanish music, but I decided to start listening to Alejandro Sanz and Enrique Iglesias, who are both Spanish artists. Music has the power to transform whatever or wherever you are into a completely new world. Whenever a good song would come up, I was suddenly in a better place and mood.
The funny thing is, after all my preparation and worry about being bored on the trip, my experience was the complete opposite. The first thing I noticed as soon as I sat down was the touch-screen TVs behind every seat. There was no charge to use it, which was even better. Passengers had unlimited access to movies, games, current travel information, like how much time was left until we landed and much more. I was so grateful for this feature because it made the time left go by so much faster. I watched “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Road Trip,” played Bejeweled and Tic-Tac-Toe against other passengers and was able to see the plane’s route to Madrid.
Not only was the personal TV awesome, even better was that someone from the group was on my same flight. He was able to switch seats with the person next to me, which was even better. I was happy to have someone to talk to and get to know. I do not think I have talked so much about myself than during this nine hour time period to Matthew Young. It was such a blessing to be able to get to know him and talk about what we wanted to do while we were in Spain, our expectations for the trip and about our lives back home. This friendship that we formed even before we got to Spain was a great foundation that lasted and grew stronger throughout the rest of the trip.
Traveling is different for everyone. People can blame bad flying experience on anything from bleak airports to unfriendly flight attendants, but the truth is, it really is whatever you make it. A positive attitude and a comfortable neck pillow can go a long way for a better plane ride. That, and the comforting fact that flying is only a temporary means to a rewarding trip.
life@fiusm.com
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