So we have been on base less than a day, and I can tell we are just beginning this adventure. Yesterday was absolutely crazy! Literally. But I should start with our flight.

All eight of us were incredibly excited to get on our flight! We were all laughing and semi-yelling. I think I may have even fist-pumped when our plane took off. All of a sudden, the stewardess came next to us and said “I’m sorry, I think customs in England will have to send you back.” I was about to apologize for being so loud and swear that I would never laugh again when she said “I don’t know if they will let people from Oklahoma in!” Turns out, she is from Tulsa. All of the flight attendants were so nice to us and continually joked with us throughout the flight. I watched two movies on the plane (The Social Network and Life As We Know It) and then slept pretty much the rest of the way. There were like 5 empty rows in the back of the plane (where we were) and we all spread out! It was really great except… for the lady sitting next to me! She was from Africa and barely spoke any English. So whenever food service came around I had to try to help translate for her what she was eating. First, I tried to help her understand the concept of a pretzel. Very difficult.  But she really liked pretzels and even asked if she could have the rest of mine (mind you I was still eating them) but I gave them to her anyways. She also seemed to need me to do everything for her right when I was dozing off… like pull off her jacket, or show her how to open the plastic around her blanket. Haha but the plane ride went fine over.

After we got off the plane at London Heathrow Airport, we realized we were about a 15 minute walk from where our bags were. But our bags did all arrive and in good condition. However, we had to walk about 3 more miles (literally all uphill) to our bus terminal. After we were profusely sweating, we waited around for our bus to arrive. On the bus ride to the base, I slept. I think I may have even drooled I was in such a deep sleep. So I literally saw none of England on the 2 hour drive to Lakenheath.

When we finally arrived, we had a man with a gun check us onto base. We all literally felt that any sudden movement might be a bad idea. Luckily, we all made it past the barb-wire fence and went on to get our military IDs. Honestly, if we didn’t have teachers on base helping us, I don’t know how we would have gotten all the paperwork done.  They also took us to the BX (think of a combo of walmart, JC Pennys, and the food court of a mall…. Very odd, I know) and to the commissary (a grocery store). We also were taken to our rooms at RAF Feltwell. This base has absolutely nothing except a convenience store and an elementary school. Literally. And there are no shuttles from one base to another so we rely solely on others offering their cars. The girls and I think our base is similar to BIG BROTHER in that there isn’t much contact to the outside world. Emily and I even went running today around the base and went up to look at the barbwire fence that surrounds the base. We literally sat there starring at the field that was beyond the fence and felt like a scene from “1984” to where we could see the outside world but couldn’t reach it.

We are going this weekend to London and I cannot wait to see everything the city has to offer. Hopefully, we will meet Colin Firth or Hugh Grant!