On Our Way!

Outer Journey

After class Bryanna, Lindsey, Rachel, and I got together, packed up the cars, and went to dinner. We talked about the things we want to do, places we want to go, and some ideas for our “free day”. I rode to the train station with Brynna, all our laughs and good conversations made the car ride go so fast. Being at the train station though felt like we’d never get out of there and the train couldn’t come soon enough. When we finally boarded I was surprised how quick it became “quiet time” and before I knew it I was out catching Z’s. Before leaving Peoria, Brynna and I had to stop at the store to get pillows since we had forgot ours at home. I’m not sure how much of a difference it made because sleeping on the train really aged me, I woke up feeling like I need a total hip and knee replacement! I got up at 8:00 and was surprised we were in Mississippi, the girls and I headed to the front for breakfast. Walking through the cars has been the biggest challenge thus far, these tiny little isles, all seats filled with people sleeping, and your trying not to be THAT person who falls onto them – with my horrible morning breath “sooorrryy”. I’m sitting in the front carts now writing this while being able to watch out the window. I knew Mississippi was “swampy” but it’s not what I had imagined it looking like. It’s almost like you can’t tell if they have gotten too much rain or if it’s always just muddy, mossy water. There have been little cricks that I have noticed and I think that they cover the tracks some because you can hear the train go through it, like when you drive through a big puddle. There are some fields too that I’ve noticed, it looks like it’d be our Illinois corn fields but with cotton. A lot of the buildings that I have noticed seem to be run down, abandoned, and I saw many that must have caught on fire at one point. It’s nice that we get to see the country side, where if we were to take a plane or drive on an interstate we may not have gotten the same experience. 

 

Inner Journey

I have been so excited about this trip, talking with the girls, preparing for it, and now that it’s finally here! Meeting up with Brynna, Lindsey, and Rachel made it even more exciting – we were all really giddy and happy to get on our journey. We’ve had a lot of laughs and it’s only the beginning! It felt like the day was dragging on but looking back now it happened so fast, I just was antsy to get on train and start going. I did talk to one of the employees of the train station, I think he was the security guard, and he asked about our class and what we were going to school for. He thought it was so cool that we get to have this experience and it made me feel really fortunate that I get to be here on this. It’s a once in a life time experience that I will always remember! Sleeping on the train made me miss my bed and looking forward to a cot as a bed for the week. Walking through the train has been such a challenge, even going to the bathroom, and I really can’t wait to be able to brush my teeth! I like being able to sit in the front of the cars that look out to the sides of the train, you really get to see everything. Seeing the run down country side, it’s nothing that I’ve really seen before and really surprised me. This all has made me really appreciative and fortunate for what I have, the opportunities that are available to me, and the conditions I live in.