Not in Kansas Anymore

I'm in Canada finishing out the second hour of my 7 hour layover. The flight here went well, and I got to ride the smallest plane of my life. Before we boarded, there was an announcement that it was an "outside board" and I'm thinking "Does that mean my feet are going to touch the ground between the gate and the plane?" Turns out, yes. I didn't know that was allowed. The plane was private jet sized with no overhead compartments, one aisle and about 20 seats. If I would have stuck my arm out, I would have touched the guy across the aisle from me. It was crazy how small it was. But for an hour flight and about 12 people, it was efficient.

From that plane, I came to the Toronto airport, which is huge and everything I was trying to get to was within sight, but just out of reach. There are a bunch of windows, where you can see restaurants,restrooms and the ten minute manicure booth, (basically everything you need in life) but there are no exit doors for a while. I tried to find my way out, but all of the escalators led up to the floor I was already on, there were no elevators, and all of the hallways led in a circle back to the spot I was standing in. It was like Alice in Wonderland or something. After walking in a thousand increasingly more anxious circles, and thinking that I was trapped forever and starving to death, I just had to slow down and ask a guy at a desk.

He led me to another desk where I had to get my passport checked for the 6 billionth time, fill out a sheet about why I was entering the country, and then have some questions asked. I put that I would be in Canada for a day, and that my reason for travel was study. "What are you going to be studying for one day?" Airport security, or whatever they're called; the people at the check-ins ensuring you aren't a threat to the country are the most intimidating people ever. Maybe just to me, because of that incident I had at the border when I was 16, but still. I always feel like I'm lying just because they're so serious. I break out into a cold sweat, start stuttering every word and confessing that time I thought about skipping class in middle school. Then, when they still aren't satisfied, because they never are, I just can't handle it anymore. I burst into tears and curl up into the fetal position, which only makes things worse. But on the outside, I hold it together. I honestly feel like I would be more confident if I were actually lying, because in that case, I would have to be, in order for them NOT to suspect that I was lying. But anyway, I hope that goes away. I plan on flying internationally a lot. I love airports.

Things I love about airports:
1. When the pilots get off of the planes in the suits and hats. They look really important.
2. How everything is a bite-sized version of itself.
3. People hugging at the 'arrivals' gate
4. When the plane picks up speed going down the aisle.
5. Being alone and on a mission.

Oh, happy Valentine's day. I'm going to go waste Canadian currency at this MAC store conveniently located near my gate.