She's Home Tomorrow Morning!!!
By Darkwing
@Darkwing (21583)
April 5, 2009 6:23pm CST
I have to say that five days has flown by and my Granddaughter's trip hasn't gone without incident. lol. It was an organised trip which wasn't very well organised, I feel. Still, they've had a great time. When I phoned her, she was full of it and thoroughly enjoying herself, but I think she'll be tired when she gets home tomorrow.
They arrived in New York at twenty past five, on Wednesday evening, and went straight to the hotel to settle in. They stayed at the Pennsylvania Hotel, on Third Avenue, Midtown Manhattan. She says it isn't the greatest of hotels, but it was comfortable and the standard was pretty good, considering it's been open since 1919. They woke up at four o'clock the first morning, and her friend went for a shower. She ended up taking a cold shower, which I thought was because it was early and the water hadn't come on in the hotel, but my giggling Granddaughter told me it was because Jess turned the wrong tap on! ha ha ha. They must be the other way round to what they are in England.
She was breathtaken by the height of the buildings. Of course, there's nothing to touch them here, either in Leeds, Birmingham or London... three of our biggest cities. They had their breakfast outside the hotel each day, at different places, just for the experience, and on Friday night they all set out for Broadway, to see a show. When they got there, it was the wrong night and they were due to go Saturday. They were a bit disappointed but made the most of their evening. Then, today, Sunday, they were expecting their flight to be at seven in the evening, so they set out real early in order to arrive at the airport for four o'clock, to book in and get their boarding passes, etc. When they reached the airport, they were told they'd been given the wrong time by the organisers and their flight wouldn't be taking off until nine o'clock this evening, from Newark. So, they had two hours to kill. I don't know what they did with their time, but I guess I'll find out tomorrow. I know she's had a great time though because she sent two or three texts every day. She'll be landing at Heathrow tomorrow at the estimated time of nine o'clock in the morning. It'll be great to have her back but I think the experience has been really good for her.
Did you ever go on a long trip like this when you were at college, or university, or have your children gone so far away from home on a trip, at such a young age? We miss them, but do you think it does them good to have time away from home? I hated when I went to Germany for three years, as it was my first ever flight and my first time away from my home country, but when the time came, I didn't want to come back! ha ha ha. I'd grown accustomed to the place!
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7 responses
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
7 Apr 09
welldidnt go to college and the biggest trip out of my home town that I grew up in in Utah.
Was to Rifle Colo.
about and 8 hour drive.
I was married then and I was 22.
Never went back to stay in Utah till in the 80s some time and then was waiting for hubby a job which he did nt get then was back there in 91 to think 94 but then me and hubby had moved around to differnt states for his job and Daughter had stayed in Utah . Then in 95 they moved her to Nevada.
And we went to arizona then we got back up here.
moved to Tenn in 97 and moved back here in 99
BUt Ya know when I did that first move I really never looked back or never reaklly missed Utah at al I had the whole U.S.A to explore and we did!
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@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
7 Apr 09
LOts and lots of desert there.
So hot dont know about horse country altho I know alot of cowboys come from there.
Yup we lived close to Pheonix bif town
and lots of miles between there and Tusun with little places in between
Lots of cactus.
Some trees like here in Nevada
yes we moved 700 times in 35 years
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@Darkwing (21583)
•
7 Apr 09
Wow... it sounds as though you moved around quite a lot in your younger days... and enjoyed it toboot. It's nice to travel. What was Arizona like? I always picture it as pretty barren and desert-like but I know it has its built-up parts and am sure it has trees and such. A typical horse country though, I believe... isn't that where Lynda McCartney came from?
Brightest Blessings my friend, and thank you for your contribution.
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@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
6 Apr 09
I didn't travel without my family when I was young, but my sister went for 6 weeks to Japan with Wider Opportunities with the Girl Scouts in 1976. So, she was 18, but there she was in a country that doesn't speak English, living with severa different families while she was there with a group of other girls that were also on this trip.
She still gets together with those girls and their children after all these years, but my sister is one to keep in touch with people - I'm not so good.
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@Darkwing (21583)
•
6 Apr 09
Wow... that was a special trip for your sister, and one which seems to have bonded her with her friends. Did she learn any Japanese whilst she was there, or did she get by with English. I think a few Japanese people speak pretty good English.
I never got away without my parents... my first flight or time away without them was when I went to Germany at age 21. I had the two boys by then. One was a babe in arms and the other twenty months older, so the flight out was a bit daunting. I was pretty uptight about leaving home for three years. I loved it out there though and didn't want to come back when the time came... but here I am, back in England, the place I love so much. :)
Brightest Blessings my friend, and thank you for your contribution.
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@winterose (39887)
• Canada
12 Apr 09
I am so happy she is back and save. Sorry it took so long to response, I am behind in mylot stuff. I never went on a long vacation and never visited the same place twice when I was young and as I got older I had one vacation in 25 years. So I don't really have much to go by.
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@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
6 Apr 09
My son went on a couple of 3 days trip..but nothing to the extent of crossing the atlantic (though it appears he has a major trip to afghanistan in the future).
He did a lot of sleep away camps as a young teen for sports (hockey and lacrosse). I think these were all good experiences for him and helped him to grow up.
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@Darkwing (21583)
•
6 Apr 09
Yes, I agree with you... it's a growing experience, and I think they learn responsibility when they go on these trips, even if it's just summer camps or something. Afghanistan? Not a drafting? There's a lot of unrest there at present my friend, from what I see of the television! Sports camps are good too because they're in a group, and I'm sure they have some great fun. New York certainly was a big trip for her, and I think she might want to hop across the pond again, some day!
Brightest Blessings my friend and thank you for your contribution.
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@mummymo (23706)
•
6 Apr 09
I am so glad that she has had a great time despite the small glitches sweetheart! I wasn't far wrong as I thought that she would be home today! I never went away when I was at school or college - unless you count 5 days in London when I was at Primary School , which although an adventure and wonderful didn't involve passports or planes!lol
I do think it is great for kids to get away supervised but without their parents. The furthest that mine have gone with school is on an outdoors centre that they go to when they are about 10 for 5 days and it is wonderful and liberating for them and also makes them realise that things are not done magically for them (I have never had to change Nialls bedding since) and builds their confidence! xxx
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@Darkwing (21583)
•
7 Apr 09
Her friend was a bit sick on the journey home and on the Saturday night for about an hour. I hope it was only travel sickness, rather than a bug, poor kid.
Yes, they seem to do that school break all over, at ten years. Remember my little granddaughter went that time, and she wasn't looking forward to it a bit! lol. Nevertheless, she had a great time, and brought back lots of pics she had taken. She doesn't change her bedding, like Niall but she's a bit less demanding.
Brightest Blessings my friend and thank you for your contribution. xx
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@Darkwing (21583)
•
7 Apr 09
Yes, I hope so too... poor Jess. The food isn't that different I guess, and the health laws as strict, but the water may have been a problem.
As for Niall, yes, I think you have to admit that he's helping you out with something that you have difficulty with. What a nice lad you have there... they're both really lovely kids. xxx
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@mummymo (23706)
•
7 Apr 09
It is awful being sick away from home - I do hope that it is just travel sickness or what some people get when they go somewhere different , there tummies get upset cause of the difference in food and water, at least that way not all the girls that travelled together won't get sick.
LOL Niall doesn't do his bedding all the time but he doesn't need told that it needs changed if we haven't done it yet. In fact if we are really busy and it has gotten to bedding change day he has been known to do his sisters bedding too! lol Do I have to admit he is usually being nice for a reason those times? xxxx
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@seniorita_lia (53)
• Philippines
6 Apr 09
Thats nice... from the sound of it she must have enjoyed her trip...
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@Darkwing (21583)
•
6 Apr 09
Yes, she's just turned 17 and she goes to college, studying law. The college took a group of them to New York for five days, with visits to Broadway, The Twin Towers Site, The Stature of Liberty and Skating in the Park. She sounded really excited on the phone, and was really enjoying the experience; her first holiday without her parents and first long-haul flight.
Brightest Blessings and thank you for your contribution.
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@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
14 Apr 09
I have three grandchildren and I always miss them when they go on vacation. They always go and do something away from home. They love to camp out which I think that is great because they get to see nature in it's true form. Not just going to a park. They have been to Mount Rushmore. They camped out when they went there. Most of the things they do they do campout and look for places that are involving nature. My grandchildren are 11, 13 and 14. One boy 11, two girls 13 and 14. They love going out and camping out. They also like to go on bike rides on the bike trails around the area. Anyway I have got some what off track here. I think it is a wonderful thing for kids to get away from home and go and see different things. I think it broadens their horizan. When my son and his family take off for vacation they are gone for two weeks and I miss my grandkids much. But when they come back they are very excited and can't wait to tell me about the things they have seen and done. It sounds like your granddaughter had a lot of fun. I bet she will busting at the seams to tell you all about her experiences that she had.
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@Darkwing (21583)
•
16 Apr 09
I used to go camping with the Girl Guides. We never went out of the county, but there are special camping places owned by the scouting groups, in woodland and country parks. I used to love it but was always glad to get back home again.
As for my granddaughter, she had a lovely time. They visited the Twin Towers Memorial Centre and The Statue of Liberty, plus Central Park and a Broadway Show, which was Mary Poppins! lol. She's made up a scrap book already with a hard back, containing her photos, tickets, and everything. They even took pictures of the clouds, from the aeroplane and they're sooooooo soothing to look at... amazin pics!
All in all, the trip went down very well, and I think someday, she might go back under her own steam, because five days is not really long enough in the States. I went for four weeks! lol.
Brightest Blessings and thank you for your contribution my friend.
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
14 Apr 09
Also I myself when I was at the end of Junior year in High School went on a New York trip. The whole class went on it and I went without my parents. It was exciting. It was the first time I had ever been on a plane and me and my class mates talked up a storm. I went to a catholic all girls high school so it was Nuns that went with us. Boy, did they have their hands full. We saw the Statue Of Liberty and just all kinds of different things. So your granddaughter will be just busting to tell you about all the neat things to see on her trip.
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