#lyf American Adventure - Day One

I hadn't been asleep long when my alarm woke me at five, I wasn't tired though as I was set to see a dream materialise. I've had a fascination for America for what feels like forever, this year I had to return to the home of everything cool, I had to. It's been three years since my last and only visit, I wanted more. The moment I had confirmation of employment that came with a wage I began to plan, in my head a trip across the Atlantic. Three months later I could turn this dream into a 'thing'. That was two months ago but it seems like yonks as excitement riddled through me, I counted down the weeks, days, hours and minutes to departure. For the past couple of days that excitement had waived as the final bits of planning had to implemented. I'm a super organised kinda person but also slightly OCD, I must have checked that I have packed my passport and tickets a dozen times this morning alone, I know I have, I did it a weeks ago!
When it comes to planning I'm on ball, my itinerary doesn't just feature daily activities but also the places I'm going to fill my stomach etc etc... I left a damp and dreary Bow at half five only to find the tubes were down so I had to walk to Mile End, the weather couldn't dampen my spirits as in 21 hours I'd be landing in Texas. That fact that this idea is becoming reality still baffled me.

Two tubes and seventy minutes later I found myself at Heathrow Terminal 5. I have a thing for airports, I guess it's cause I associate them with the place adventures begin. Check in was a breeze, staff were friendly and helpful, couldn't stomach breakie so settled for a massive Starbucks caramel latte and chilled. Boarding a plane by yer'sen is no way as scary as it sounds, easier than any other mode of transport, you can mistakenly get on the wrong train but you can't board the wrong plane. There's free booze and I chose orange juice. Fool! Breakfast came in the form of pasta and pesto and a chocolate orange moose plus beer, odd first meal of the day but tasty. Dinner arrived in last hour of the flight, good chicken caesar sandwich, average kit kat and an unpleasant coffee. First inflight movie, A Million Ways To Die was ok, not Seth MacFarlen's finest work but watchable. Got about half hours kip whilst watching a Kate Moss docu, I'm learning as well as flying, also watched Soccer AM and MasterChef, listened to Young Fathers and Jack White albums, neither wowed me. The BA blankets are totally wearable, Burberry, you've got yerself a challenger! Saved me a grand.

Arrived at JFK with four hours to waste, mostly spent it perusing sweets that I didn't really want. Spent my first $'s in McD's on some coke, that is 'medium', apparently. Got some won ton soup from some dodgy Chinese place too cos it was only $4, a slice of pizza is double that, nuts. The first song I heard on US soil was Sam Smith, got a feeling I'm gonna be hearing a lot from that guy whilst hanging here. Getting through security was pretty stressful, when it comes to organisational skillz Heathrow wins hands down.
5pm NYC time (11pm really) and it's time to head South, Deep South. After enjoying the luxe BA flight the plane to Austin was pretty basic, I know it's in the same country but it's still four hours in the sky! The free booze, blankets and films are a distant memory. Already loving the accent! I think they think I'm a child.
I've followed the sun today, it rose as I made my way to the airport and it set as we approached Austin!  The clouds we flew through over America were particularly impressive, kept distracting me from my book. I'm reading The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, I liked the film, heard the book was better, can't remember what happened in the film, made sense to get the book.
Austin is warm. Was off the plane, out of the airport and on a bus within half an hour! The bus driver was super helpful and with a bit of map reading I found the hostel! It's ok, I was pretty tired so I had a shower and went to bed, unfortunately my body didn't let me sleep.