Sheer Insanity

(Just try to believe half the things in this post. Try. If it was in a movie, we'd all say, "Yeah, right.")

So here's the thing: There's this volcano erupting in Iceland. And before I even get to the point, let's just consider the this volcano's name. Unbelievable Fact #1: "Eyjafjallajokull." That's sixteen letters. SIXTEEN. Speaking of numbers, Unbelievable Fact #2: The last time this volcano erupted, in 1822, it went on erupting for TWO YEARS. So there's some scope.

Why is this so important? You probably already know Unbelievable Fact #3: We're all stranded in Oxford. Basically every airplane in Europe is grounded indefinitely because of this ENORMOUS cloud of ash that's now covering most of Northern Europe. It's completely surreal. Most of us should have left by now and we're all still here in Crick, trying to get our bearings and figure out how homeless we are. Our program - SCIO - is being magnificent and extending stays and inviting us over for lunch. One of the most incongruous parts of it is that the last two days here have been the absolute best weather we've had in Oxford all semester. Exquisite spring days. It's so hard to believe in this cloud that's casting major shadows over all our plans.

By this hour in American time I should have been sitting on Sarah's bed in her dorm room in Jackson, Mississippi. Instead, I am still an ocean away, crossing my fingers and hoping against hope that my flight that is now on Wednesday will not be cancelled again.

*cue Paul Simon "Homeless"* "Somebody cry why why why??!!"

Honestly, I feel like it's an adventure. It's slightly apocalyptic (you know, ash taking over the world and planes being grounded and thousands or millions of people being stranded without much recourse -- basically nature reclaiming her own), totally discombobulating, and really really funny when we stop to think about it. But a lot of girls have been crying and everyone is going TOTALLY CRAZY. Or, to Britishify it: "Really rather in a frenzy."

And yet. We're all together. All in this together. And it's a blessing to have a few more days with these people I love and this place I've learned to love, too.

But I really hope I can get home. Soon.