Eyjafjallajökull. Yes this is a word and Yes it is a Volcano...

So I thought I should write a little blog to calm my nerves as well as explain to you people at home what is happening here.

We have been in complete panic for the last five days not knowing what is going to happen. We have been looking into trains, alternate flights as well as ships. Each of these options has basically been ruled out due to cost or its already booked. All of Europe is at a standstill. We didn't realize that people at home didn't really know how bad this really was. Several people on our program had people flying in this week/weekend to visit that have already had to cancel. Heathrow which is one of the largest airports in Europe has been closed for five days and is going to remain closed tomorrow. The airlines have lost up to 200 million dollars for each day they have not been able to fly. Within the first two days of the closure over 17,000 flights were cancelled. This is big.

I have never been in an area that has been affected by something like this. It is truly mind blowing to watch this take place and see how people are handling it. The British Navy has stepped in and has been going the coast to pick people up and bring them home. Our program directors have convinced the people that operate our building to allow us to stay until the 29th free of charge. We are a program of 48 American students that will all be stranded if the bans do not stop. Seeing as there are this many of us, our director contacted the American Embassy to see if there was any protocol that should be followed. He told us that they have been the hardest to deal with for just about everything that has asked them for help. This is upsetting to me as I am feeling slighting scared and incredibly anxious.

We were finally given some good news today. The airspace above the UK might open tomorrow night. As the ash cloud begins to disperse people are finally optimistic about the possibility of flying again. The only thing left to fear is Hekla... This is the second volcano that has erupted every single time this one has and countless times with out it.

Overall, this has been an incredibly stressful time that unfortunately mixed with the emotions of leaving. One can only hope and pray that everyone in Iceland is okay and that life will resume back to normal as soon as possible and that all the people who are displaced will be able to get where they are headed soon.

When someone tells you that you cannot go home it only makes you want it more. The countdown still rests at 5 days... hopefully no longer. London has become a second home to me. But a second home can never take the place of a true home, and that is what I am ready to go back to.

Love you all and hope to see you all soon