The Flight That Didn’t Exist
Travel is supposed to be glamorous, right? The anticipation, the excitement of new places, new faces. But let’s be real—nothing ever goes as planned. And the more you try to control it, the more the universe loves to throw you a curveball. My study-abroad journey to Ireland was supposed to be my dream semester, and it started with a huge twist of chaos that turned out to be part of the adventure.
It all began at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport, where I showed up three hours early (thanks to my mom’s over-the-top “be on time” advice). I was feeling smug—after all, I was going to Ireland for an entire semester, and I had my passport, two packed suitcases (plus a duffle bag), and my best travel face on.
But then came the news from the United Airlines counter: “I’m sorry, but your flight doesn’t exist.”
Pause.
What?
I blinked, glanced at my itinerary—everything was clearly in order. But according to the agent, there was no record of my flight from Cincinnati to Chicago, the first leg of my journey before I’d hop to Dublin. Cue panic. I’d dreamt of this moment for months. Was my study-abroad dream really slipping through my fingers at the last minute?
I was ready to throw in the towel when the agent, probably sensing my impending meltdown, calmly offered a solution: they could book me on an earlier flight. “You’ll make it,” she promised.
With a 45-minute scramble to find my new gate, rush through security, and kiss my parents goodbye for the next few months, I somehow managed to board that flight to Chicago. I had no idea what to expect next, but the frustration of the moment melted as soon as I took off. Dublin was still in my sights.
I landed in Chicago, now officially running on fumes, but the connection to Dublin was in sight. After a short layover, I boarded the final leg of the flight and could practically taste the Guinness in my future.
Touchdown in Dublin. The air was crisp and fresh, the kind of breeze that felt like the city was welcoming me. Customs was quick, bags arrived on time—things were looking up. But of course, this is travel, so a few more hurdles awaited. A shuttle to Maynooth, a small town outside of Dublin where I’d be living for the semester, sounded simple enough. But after an hour, we arrived to find... no one could figure out how to get us to - or into - our apartments.
Airport shuttle? Dropped us off about one mile from campus - keep in mind, we each had three months worth of luggage and no sense of direction, on our own for the first time at 19 years old. Phone Service and WiFi? Think again. Keys? Not working; we were locked out of our place. Cue another round of frustration, as we trudged through the cobblestone streets of Maynooth, jet-lagged and hopelessly exhausted, in search of a solution. When we finally managed to get into our apartments—well, let’s just say there wasn’t much fanfare. But who needs it when you’re in Ireland?
That evening, we ventured out for our first taste of Maynooth—walking distance from our apartment was a 12th-century castle (yes, you read that right), tucked in among cozy cafés and small shops. We had a celebratory dinner at a nearby restaurant, savoring our first meal in Ireland with a mix of excitement, relief, and maybe a little disbelief. The food was fresh, the drinks were cold, and the whole town seemed to glow in a way only European towns can.
In that moment, the stress of the day faded away. Yes, I had arrived in a bit of a whirlwind—rebooked flights, lost keys, airport mix-ups—but there I was, in Ireland, about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. I realized then that travel isn’t about seamless experiences or perfect itineraries. It’s about embracing the chaos, laughing through the mess, and making it all part of the journey.
As I sat there, thinking about everything that had gone wrong, I couldn't help but smile. Because those challenges—the missed flight, the locked doors, the long waits—they made the first day even more memorable. They gave me a deeper appreciation for the moments that followed. The reality of study abroad wasn’t the smooth arrival I’d imagined; it was the messy, unpredictable, beautiful chaos that would shape my experience.
By the time we returned to our apartment and unpacked our bags, I knew one thing for sure: the adventure had only just begun. The next three months were bound to be full of detours, bumps, and plenty of unexpected moments. But after a start like that, I couldn’t wait to see what else Ireland had in store.