the impossible journey home

sooo, there I was Hong Kong airport, ready to board my first plane.

What you should know is that my original flight plan wasn't the most fun flight plan.
First stop - Jakarta, Indonesia
hours of waiting time
Second stop - Abu Dhabi
hours of waiting time
Third and final stop - Düsseldorf, Germany

Obviously, that is already not the best flight plan ever but since I knew from the beginning I was okay with it + everybody (who really knows me) knows that I actually like airports and flying.

The first flight to Indonesia went well. I slept most of the time and it went by pretty quickly.
In Jakarta a lady from Garuda Indonsia (airline) brought me to my next gate, so I didn't have to go through security again which was cool.

Then I saw that I got a mail from Etihad with the headline that my departure time changed but for some reason the content didn't load on my iPhone. It has happened before but the time changed only by 5 minutes the first time, so I wasn't really worried and decided to eat first and then got my laptop out. The food was really good BUT then there was the surprise....

My flight from Jakarta to Abu Dhabi was delayed by 6 freaking hours. That wouldn't have been that bad if it didn't mean that I would miss my connecting flight. Trying to get help, all that people would tell me is 'in Abu Dhabi there is a transfer desk, that's where you need to go'. That's great, except wait...I'm not in Abu Dhabi, I'm in Jakarta!!!
Then I woke up my brother because my mom wouldn't answer her phone (Sorry Philip!) so at least I had someone to talk to. I also called Thomas, and Cheri (I had a lot of time now). My mom was looking up flight from Abu Dhabi and there were some seats still free on a direct flight to Düsseldorf, so there was hope. I spent most of the time in Jakarte Facetiming, sleeping, listening to Music or just waiting. I did like the moment when I got 100.000 Indonesian Rupiah (a little more than 6€).
I might not have the best opinion about service and security at the airport in Indonesia now but I guess if it went a different way, I would have a different opinion - bad luck.
The flight to Abu Dhabi was good. I watched 'Boyhood' and for some reason the seat next to me was free so I even had more room.
First thing I did in Abu Dhabi was going to the Transfer Desk. The direct flight to Düsseldorf was full now so they made me go to Munich first and then to Düsseldorf..Yaaaay, another Stop!! :D
I did get a free meal which I decided to use at Burger King (and I wasn't even hungry). Then more facetiming and waiting. On my flight to Munich I had extra leg room (Etihad's way to say sorry)

I watched 'The Maze Runner' and 'Guardians of the Galaxy'. The woman next to me slept during the entire flight and had long legs which kinda fell to my site a few times but whatever. I also slept for a few hours. The flight was actually nice.

So then I was in Munich, the stop that wasn't planned. Luckily, the waiting time wasn't too long and Thomas kept me company via facetime.

And the finally my last flight to Düsseldorf. Now some could think 'Hey, she made it!' and I did but there was still one thing that could go wrong, right? Would my luggage be there?
The chance didn't seem very high to be honest with all those changing flights but 'hope dies last'!

One suitcase after another came out, mine wasn't there...GREAT!!
so I went to that nice lady, she tracked it but there was no note yet so they couldn't tell me where it was and I could just go home and wait.
I was exhausted at that point, just wanting to go home. Of course I was still very happy to see my family again + it was my birthday (haha, yes what a great way to celebrate). We got home around 5:45 pm. I took a quick shower, at 6pm my grandparents came to celebrate my birthday. I ended up being a nice evening and when everybody had left I fell asleep very fast, finally in the arms of my boyfriends again ;)

Hong Kong was great. It might not have been my first choice but finally it is the best that could have happened. You shouldn't judge a city within the first few days but give it time and explore it all. Hong Kong is very different to Germany (and the US), the people have many different believes and I'm not even gonna talk about the food. I found many good friends (fellow exchange students and locals) and I started to fall in love with Hong Kong, it's not a city where I could live forever but it's a city worth traveling to. It was very different to what I expected (in a positive way) and it will be one of my greatest memories!

There are a few people that stand out and who I wanna give a special shout-out to:
Theresa
Michèle
Kinson
Sam
HKIEd Handball Team

I guess now it's back to reality...

the time came to say 'goodbye' to some people and 'see you again' to others

On Wednesday we had a last dinner with some of the exchange students

dinner with great people

the table next to us was really nice, we became friends and they bought us Champagne! Thank you! :)

that was one part of our dinner, looks delicious, right?

Later, we went to Wan Chai for Ladies Night! Which mostly meant that we would be sleeping in the next day :)
On Thursday we had the Farewell Party with the International Office, some memories were shared and goodbyes were spoken.

The last Mega-Selfie. I'll miss (most of) you!!

On Friday I went out to dinner with Theresa, Minji and Michèle but we didn't take any pictures, except for Michèle's and my last MTR ride

We'll miss you MTR!

Today we slept late, had a last breakfast at Pacific Coffee, packed our stuff, cleaned up and then I thought we were going to dinner, when Kinson, Michèle and Theresa surprised me for my pre-birthday celebration since they can't celebrate it with me on Monday! So nice, what a surprise, thank you very much!!!!

The time came when I had to say goodbye to my dearest diarrhea friend Theresa, soooo sad!
and then we took bus E41 to the airport

I was lucky enough not to get just any roommate but actually the best roommate possible! Michèle Cornelia, you're awesome! I'll miss you!

Kinson is so nice to stay with me at the airport until I go through security, sooooo nice, thank you!!!

and he entertains himself by doing push-ups...why not?!

 My flight will leave in 6 1/2h...

Tattoos, Farewell Parties and Oceanpark

12/12/2014 will be the day I got my third tattoo, and I wasn't alone. Michèle and Theresa joined the adventure and we all got a tattoo related with flying, travelling, and freedom.
We are now always connected :P

The building in which it happened.

lift to the 21st floor

Pre-tattoo selfies! :)

1st!

my tattoo right after the session

the joy in Therea's face is crazy! :D

the results (taken a few days later)

On Saturday, it was another library day and not much going on...
...but on Sunday, I met Freya (friend from Germany) who did an exchange in Shanghai and came to Hong Kong for travelling. Theresa and I showed her around Central, we took the ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui and went to Mongkok. It was a fun day!!

ferry

christmas decoration

What day is Monday? Library day! Here's a pic to proof it:

work hard -play harder!

And then I had a farewell party with HKIEd's handball team. First, we had dinner together

then we went to one of the team members house, drank a little, played games and had a lot of fun!

Finally, I want to say Thank You!! to the entire team and the coach, that I could be part of the team and was able to practice with you and made some great friends!! :)

I got home at around 6am, met Theresa for breakfast at 10am, which was obviously great, sooo much sleep. But then we went to Ocean Park, so it was worth it!! :)

he thought he was funny ;)

Oceanpark has the best view! :)

we had great weather! :)

Cable Car

We met Santa! :)

and Kinson came over later to chat a bit with me and Michèle and you know when Kinson comes, there will be Selfies! :D

Today (Wednesday) was spend in the library, but about to go out to a last dinner with the remaining exchange students :)