I wish this was just a taste of what the rest of my trip will be like, but alas, it’s a false comfort. I’m currently living it big, relaxing in the Qantas business lounge, while I wait for my fancy business class flight to NYC. Whilst I’d like to think my current salary affords me such luxuries, who are we kidding? There’s no money in equity, you don’t get into that field for the money. I just stole dad’s frequent flyer points (thanks dad!) to get me to NYC. The smart thing would’ve been to spread the points and use it for some of my other flights too, but let’s not succumb to logic right now. Let me enjoy this luxury.

Luxury aside, my nerves are completely shot. Whilst not my first solo trip, it’s certainly the biggest solo trip where I’m not on a tour or meeting friends for at least 3 weeks, plus the whole, I didn’t quite become semi-fluent in Spanish as I had hoped. My backpack ended up being fuller than I’d anticipated, and everything is a tad bulky, but I’ll manage. This will be a trip of ‘firsts’. My first time in business class, first time in South America, first solo trip this big, first time backpacking. 

To be honest, this trip couldn’t be more aptly timed. I’ve had a horrendous 48 hours. Let’s just say, no one can ever proclaim me to be the black sheep of the family. God my sister is bat-shit crazy. And poor Frankie, he’s been so traumatised, the little thing hadn’t eaten since my sister’s cat came to stay. I was a little worried about leaving him, but he ate a little before I left, I’m going to miss that orange ball of fur. Mum has been instructed to send regular photos of him so I know he’s ok. He sulks a fair bit when I go on holiday. He seemed pretty pissed off with me when I went to Sydney for a bloody week! How’s he going to cope with 2 months?!

Anyway, back to the trip. First stop in NYC, with a short layover in Hong Kong. Not that I’ll be spending much time in NYC, I’m bumming around JFK airport overnight til my flight to Quito, Ecuador, via Guayaquil. What was originally a direct flight, now sees me partake in a flying marathon. Maybe it’s a good thing my long haul is business, everything else is economy, and pretty sure NYC – Quito is a small carrier. I’ve packed a sleeping back on my carry on, so I’ll just find a quiet corner at JFK to have a nap. I was hoping my onward flight would be in the terminal with Shake Shack, but no such luck, I was really craving one of their milkshakes. 

My poor mum, I think she’s a bit stressed, between the drama my sister caused over the weekend, and her youngest (and let’s face it, favourite) child off to South America. It’s the Asian parent worry, though dad was a little excited about me flying business class, they even took a photo of me standing in front of the sign at check in. Talk about mildly embarrassing. There also more than a few curious stares, I’m not exactly dressed like I belong in business class, between the hiking boots, Dockers cap, and the backpack, plus me clutching Alec, I look like a bit of a lost kid.

30 minutes til boarding! Eeep!