3:31 am. 4 hours after arriving at Milan Malpensa airport, and 3 hours before my flight leaves. No, theres not cruel and unusual amounts of airport security in Italy, I just didn't want to pay for the ridiculous combined cost of a hostel, a cab, and an early train. I had many preconceived notions about airports that have been disproven by this experiment.
1. Airports do close down completely. I thought that there were always busy little airport workers checking luggage at all obscure hours, like ants. The only workers here are janitors and a guy who drives around one of those awesome zomboni type things they have at ice rinks. Thats probably the second best job ever, only behind dog walker.
2. Tons of people sleep at the airport! I thought I might be generally alone in my overnight exploration of life as a bum, but the place is packed! From midnight, people started showing up and chatting, then sleeping on benches, then chatting some more.
3. Airports are not required to have those cushiony seats that I have always seen before. The seat I sit on is metal, with a little blue pillow at the top that makes a surprising difference in my comfort.
I have also learned that this is fun! Fuck hostels and hotels, I'll just chill at airports wherever I go. Its free, you just have to pay the expense of feeding yourself at hours in which you would normally be all curled up like a nice warm bun straight from the oven; a small price to pay. I have spent my alone time reading The Shadow of the Wind, which my dad recommended I read in Barcelona (where it is set) and of which I have already completed 200 pages. I'll be finished before I even get to Barcelona. You know you can be amazingly productive if you don't sleep (obviously that wasn't directed at you, Rula, because you know this well). I have painted my nails, much to the confusion of the Australian guy sitting near me who looks bored to tears. I have gotten high scores on all of my ipod games. Did I mention I drank a redbull? YUP. Its like the DivLib all over again.
I don't seem to be joined in my joy of airport non-sleeping. (The cheese stands alone, as usual). There is a baby who whines about god knows what, because nothing is happening. The Italian soccer team next to me sleeps most of the time only to awake and grumble something unpleasant to their fellow teammates. The poor swedish girl near me has been stalked by the bored Australian man, and I think has been feigning sleep for the last two hours to avoid his odd conversation. If you ever met Ben from the book store (Elisabeth, Kristina...you know) this guy is pretty much the Australian version of him. Thats right, there's more than one.
Unfortunately, in 3 short hours I will be leaving Italy. When I will be back to this beautiful country, I don't quite know. The family I was with offered me more money to come back next summer, as well as paying for my flight (and no doubt another designer bonus). Its probably the most tempting offer I've ever gotten, but for some reason I feel like I can't. Like I have too much to do, to get a job, to get ready for grad school...etc....i don't really know what the etc, but I'm sure theres other stuff. I also missed a lot of stuff about summer while I was away- camping, bbq's, summer nights in santa cruz/petaluma, having friends... I've spent a summer as Lindsay Lohan in the beginning of Mean Girls, something I've always dreaded. But it wasn't as bad as I thought. Apparently I am pretty good at entertaining myself now. Look Ma, a new skill!
Anyway back to important airport business... business looks like guiness. Weird. More redbull Caitlyn? Why yes, thank you.
You know you love teriyaki chicken,
Cait
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