Today I finally came to KC! All went well- got to La Guardia in gooood time, flight was on time, all went smoothly. I had been offered to get picked up at the airport in KC by volunteers associated with the International Office at UMKC (and the church- I did not understand that connection directly, but didn’t ask), which is great! The couple that wanted to give me a lift to campus had contacted me beforehand, and sent me a picture of themselves (for recognition at the airport, I assume). So after arrival I looked out for this tall man with a white beard and his chinese wife, not sure whether they’d hold up a sign with my name or not. They were not at the gate where I arrived (at this airport you meet the waiting people right after leaving the plane, just as in “Love Actually”), so I went to get my baggage. I thought they might figure that I went to get my suitcases, and meet me there. But after waiting there for a while, I thought I maybe should get back to the gate. I could not find any trolley, so I had to push and pull my three suitcases back through the terminal. But they were not at the gate this time either. I waited there a little while, but thought it might be better to get back to the baggage claim again. So I did. When they weren’t there this time either, I finally had the idea to re-read the mail they had sent me two days ago and search for a clue where they might be hiding! They had asked me to confirm that I arrive on jan 3rd, which I did..  I was watching the view from Jakobs apartment when “reading” their email, not caring too much about the details like dates. Soo, there I was an hour later, on jan 2nd, sweaty and tired. Pulling my three suitcases back through the terminal, yet again, to get a ticket for the shuffle bus!

Driving through town on my way to campus I got the chance to have a sneakpeak at KC, yet again the weather was on my side. Sun, blue sky and clear, crisp air! Beautiful. The city looked clean and nice! But something was odd. There were no people. I mean, there were cars driving on the streets, but no people walking anywhere in town? Why? I think I saw about 5 people alltogether. We crossed the city from the north to the south (the city being about the size as Oslo), and that was it? Very, very strange. And actually a bit freaky. I’m hoping that the people are crowding up inside the cafes and bars or something.

And then I arrived at my new home- the Oak Place Apartments. The room looks just as it did in the catalogue ( http://www.umkc.edu/HOUSING/apartments.asp ), and I even have a bathtub! Loves! My flatmates are not here, I assume they still are on winterbreak (..like the remaining 98% of KC’s population?..). The international students start tomorrow, but the rest start next week, I think. That might mean that my flatmates are american, but I’ll just wait and see.

I went to have a look around campus, but it was too cold (besides being deserted), actually. Tomorrow: Big wool-wrap-up! I bought a little candle together with some snacks, just to make it cosy. I had forgotten that I have quit smoking, though, and no longer have a lighter. Candle-cosy tomorrow, then.