It's LiveLaughLovingEveryone2 back with another chapter and more exciting one! Enjoy!
Val's POV:
We walked into LAX and it was huge! There just seemed to be so many people. It's 5:28. It seems like we have enough time for coffee and the the flight. We got coffee and then walked over to the Tom Bradley Terminal. Our flight is 117. We sit down for a bit to wait for our flight to be called.
Me: Wow I can't believe in a few minutes we're getting on a flight to Bolivia
Parker: I know
I'm so excited I can barely think of what else to say. I take a sip from my cold brew and just think about a whole year in Bolivia. The Bio Dome is a summer program other astronaut training courses are a year round thing. What would the bio dome look like. Where would we be staying. I got the name of the hotel, but would it be beautiful or low budget. In the print it says we get to train in the Bio Dome not live there. It was falsely advertised, but I'm also relieved at the same time. The hotel (Sal Casa) is apparently 4 1/2 star, but reviews close to tourist attractions can be misleading. I also worry that they might just be talking it up. I can call my family, I may not want to though. It'll be nice to finally have space. I'm going to be living in a hotel for a year. It'll be weird to sleep in a different bed, it always is every time I went on trips with my family.
Parker: Are you okay
Me: Yeah, just a bit tired
Parker: You look concerned
Me: Yeah I am, I mean what if the hotel we have to stay at for an entire year is a dump
Parker: I though about that too
Me: What if something happens in Bolivia and what happens then
Parker: Hopefully it won't, besides we'll be with other people from different countries I think pairs from 7 different countries are coming and that's 14 people
Me: I know, I'm just freaking out a bit, rationally I know I'll be fine, but this is the first time I've been away for my family besides that trip to Québec
Parker: I was so scared too, I even talked to Liv about it, I felt some what better afterwards, but I also know a year is a while, by then we'll be 15!
I laugh slightly. Mostly out of nervousness. I'm also concerned about sharing a room with Parker for a whole year. I like him a lot, what girl wouldn't want to share a room with the guy they've been crushing on? I can't help but be excited, scared, nervous and enthusiastic at the same time. I try taking a sip of my coffee, It's empty so I get up and throw it away.
Speaker: Flight 117 is starting to board
I walk back over and grab my 2 suit cases and carry-on and walk to the boarding terminal. After a bit of waiting because of a mix up with some man in front of us we got on. Apparently we get "business class" seating. We get onto the plane and to our seats which are sorta in the middle. The seats recline slightly. It's only 2 seats per row which is nice, it's always weird to have that 3rd unknown flying alone person. The flight is only less than 7 1/2 hours I'm told. At least we have TV's. They do the pre flight safety demonstration and other basic measures (which I didn't pay much attention to) before taking off.
Parker: So what do you want to watch?
Me: I don't even know the channels, I think this is dish
We have the lovely luxury or sharing the one TV in front of us. I grab the remote to channel flip.
Me: How about this, you can never go wrong with bond
Parker: I didn't even know you liked bond movies
Me: How could I not
Parker: Good point
It was on some channel below 60. I don't remember much else besides the turn of your electronic devices until we tell you you can turn them back on. I just leaned to my side and closed my eyes.
("Who's there... anyone..." *whoosh* "Anyone" I look to see grey concrete colored buildings. The windows are broken. I keep hearing indecipherable whispers. It seems completely empty. The windows are all shattered and I walk to avoid the glass pieces. All the sudden a gust of wind blows knocking me down. I land into the glass shatters. "AAAHH...HELP ME...ANYONE...PLEASE" I scream out of desperation. I close my eyes.)
I wake up. I look at my watch. 12:14 I've been asleep for almost 6 hours! I realized I was leaned up against Parkers shoulder. OMG did I drool on him, whew I didn't. I like being in this position. I mean it just feels nice, why can't I explain this? I'm just going to milk this for a few more minutes. Maybe I should see if Parkers up.
Me: Are you asleep
Parker: I was for a bit
Me: Did you stay up for the rest of the movie
Parker: No, I only got less than 30 minutes of sleep last night
Me: Same
Parker: I woke up like an hour ago, I started watching whatever the heck this is, also listening to music
Me: Why didn't you change the channel?
Parker: Didn't want to wake you up
Me: Thanks, what are you listening to
Parker: Ummmm
Me: It's fine you don't have to answer if you don't want to
I realize that I'm still laying my head on Parker's shoulder. I sit myself up straight in my seat. I just smile over at Parker, he was already smiling at me. I dig my phone and earbuds out of my carry on and listen to some music. I mostly have R&B music, but I have some pop and alternative playlists. After a bit the we're landing announcement. I put my phone back into the front pocket of my grey carry on.
Parker: I can't believe we're landing, I can't wait to see the Bio Dome and Bolivia!
Me: I can't either, ever since I head about Mars Madness I was so excited for this! Finally after so much waiting and work
The plane lands. We are now at Jorge Wilstermann International Airport In Cochabamba Bolivia. I realize that I haven't eaten my complimentary airline pretzels so I put them in my bag. I haven't eaten since 10:23 last night. I have to eat something soon. People started to get off the planes so I stood up and waited till I could actually get out of the seat. We got off the plane and walked into the airport. There was a lady there holding a sign that said American MM Students. The email told us too look for a lady named Rebecca with brown hair and hazel eyes holding a sign that said that. They even sent us a picture of her.
Me: Are you Rebecca?
Becky: Yes, call me Becky, what are your names
Parker: Parker nice to meet you
Becky: Same, You
Me: Valerie, Call me Val
Becky: Nice to meet you, I am the English language speaker, so for this program you'll be with other students, they'll be from, the U.K., Denmark, Canada, Brazil, France, Germany, and Spain, the flights from the U.K. and Canada have already arrived, I'll take you to meet them, Come on!
Becky starts to waking and we follow her. We go to the baggage claim and get our suitcase before Becky starts walking again. We follow her to this restaurant. It's a bit dim.
Becky: Okay so there sitting right over there, but I need to explain the program, I will answer questions after
We go sit at a empty table in corner
Becky: Okay, So as you know there is a Bio Dome in Salar de Uyuni, near the salt flats, es you will get a tour, you get one week to explore the area as tourists and to adjust to your rooms for the rest of the year, you will be taking classes that specialize in STEM subjects like normally, but also astronomy, biology, geology, and hydrology, also courses on gear, you'll have 4 semesters, during the summer you'll only have 2 class a day, they'll be an hour and 30 minutes, you'll get served 3 full course meals a day, your free to snack on things during the day though, you have curfew of 11:30, you have to be in your rooms by then, we decided to give you more freedom, you are advanced students, you have a TV and wi-if, there is a billards table, but no pool, like the kind you swim in, there are laundry services, there is a common area, we will meet there at 9:25 before classes after the first week, there are restaurants around town, feel free to go to them, but it's not covered by school, there is a in hotel restaurant that's covered by the school, there is tea and coffee too, there is only one desk in the room, there is a table and several nightstands though, and um that's all I can think of for now, any additional information will be provided as asked or needed! I have to go to the terminal to greet the German students, There is the other one intern Aimee over there with the students from The U.K. and Canada over there, see you in a bit
Becky walked away finally. I took a deep breath and tried to process everything she just said. Me and Parker continued to sit at the corner table at least until before Becky comes back.
Parker: I was wondering if that lady would ever walk away
Me: Same, but it was helpful, just long
Parker: It will be exciting to explore a bit as tourists, it would have been nice if Becky told us how long we're going to sit at the airport though
Me: I was also wondering that, I'm a bit hungry I think I might order something
We walked over to the table with Aimee and the other students who won their country's mars madness. Aimee had black hair and brown eyes, she was very pretty.
Aimee: Hi, I'm Aimee, I'm one of the two interns who will be with your during your stay here, what are your names?
Me: Val
Parker: Parker
Aimee: Nice to meet you these are the students from other countries they'll be In your class and will be staying at the same hotel, want to introduce yourself guys
Cat: I'm Catherine from Canada, don't call me that though, call me Cat
Bree: I'm Bree, I'm with Cat
Dan: I'm Daniel and I'm from the U.K., most people refer to me as Dan
Matt: I'm Matt
Me: Hi Cat, Bree, Dan and Matt
I just sat down and looked at the menu, it was Spanish and English for the tourists.
Aimee: So here are some sticky notes write down your orders so I don't order them wrong
Aimee passed us yellow sticky notes and we wrote down our orders.
Aimee: I will put these in
Everyone talked within their own clique. Me and Parker kinda didn't know what to say. I decided to speak first.
Me: What do you think of Becky and Aimee so far?
Parker: Um Aimee hasn't really said much and seems kinda shy and Becky seems outgoing I guess, we'll see them everyday for a year so I guess we better like them or at the least tolerate them, they seem nice
Me: Yeah, I can't wait to see our room, or get some food
Parker: Don't act like your the only one who hasn't eaten
Me: Sorry, and also about earlier me falling asleep on you, you aren't upset at me are you
Parker: Why would I be upset at you, I liked it actually, I can't believe I get to spend a whole year with you, It's awesome
Me: missed my family at first, but now I'm excited to have some freedom, my parents kept a tight leash on all of us
Parker: My mom wasn't strict rather than embarrassing
Me: *laughs* yeah
Aimee sat back down at the table.
Aimee: Okay so I put you orders in and Becky is over there with the German and Danish students, I speak French, Spanish, and English, Becky speaks, English, Danish, and German, I'll be with the Brazilian, Spanish, and French students most of the time, Becky will be with the rest most of the time, you'll see us both though!
The waiter came over with our food, finally! We all ate and the other students joined us. The students from France, Brazil and Spain finally arrived. Aimee talked to them rather then Becky. By the time this was done it was 4:07 Pacific time. It was 7:07 here. We split up and we ended up with Becky.
Becky: Okay at 7:20 we're getting on a bus to Salar de Uyuni, We'll get to the hotel at about 10:50, anyone who needs to use the restroom their in the back left
Pretty much everyone goes into the restroom regard less of if they actually need to or not. Bree and Cat spent the whole time talking. I looked into the mirror, washed my hands and walked out. I really don't understand the girls who go into the restroom just to talk, fixing hair or make up yes though. I sat back down at the table with one of the students from the U.K. Matt I think. After about 9 Minutes Becky started to talk again.
Becky: Okay everyone have everything?Everyone in Becky's group: Yeah
Becky: let's start walking to the exit
We started to follow Becky and looked around at the surroundings or the airport.
Becky: Okay so around 10:50ish we'll get to the hotel, you can eat something, unpack, watch some TV or even wind down with a cup of tea, Your not allowed to leave the hotel tonight, You have a whole week to get settled and explore you'll be staying only a bus ride away from the salt flats, okay you have to keep you suitcases in the seats or by your feet with you, it's a small bus
Becky and Aimee walked us students to a small white bus, if you even want to call it that. We got on the bus and started driving to the hotel.
Okay, hope you Enjoyed this chapter. Next chapter hotel!
