Agavni Mehrabi ’26 is a double major in government and finance. Outside of The Flat Hat, Agavni is a member of WCWM 90.9, Library Ambassadors, and the Archery Club. Email Agavni at almehrabi@wm.edu.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
It's the holiday season. That might mean Christmas music on the radio, ugly sweaters, and family gatherings. Do you know what this can also mean? Lots of travel. Take me: an international student who just returned from Thanksgiving break and is forced to start all over again once exams are over.
With this in mind, I thought I would offer you a small list of travel tips. These are especially dedicated to freshmen who live outside of Virginia, as it can be difficult to fly alone. However, parts of this may only apply to part of this cohort (I know a friend from New York who regularly uses Amtrak), and parts may even apply to Virginians traveling with or without family to destinations in beyond.
First of all, when it comes to getting to and from the airport, I have a lot to say about carpooling. Indeed, during my two years at the College of William and Mary, I have yet to find a coherent alternative. I share a Lyft with a friend here or there when the stars align (i.e. when we're heading to the same airport around the same time), but that's once in a blue moon. I don't have social media, so any organized group of people dedicated to walking there is personally out of my reach. The Community Love and Mutual Aid GroupMe is helpful for small things, but ride requests (with an attached offer to split gas money, mind you) tend to be greeted with crickets. The school offers shuttle service for special seasons like Thanksgiving, but the limited times available are not very convenient for the price of $50. Finally, Amtrak offers a route to Richmond for around $15, twice daily. The problem is that Amtrak can be heavily delayed and does not extend to Norfolk. Yes, I recognize my privilege in saying that I'm willing to fork over $60 for a rideshare to save myself the headache of coordinating my flight schedule with the hassle of public transportation. Either way, here are some tips for using an Uber or Lyft.
- Do not pre-book a ride the day before. Ride-sharing apps seem to know that people prefer the peace of mind that comes from knowing a ride will be available at the time and location of their choosing, in advance, since they charge a extra for this feature. One of the themes, apparently, is that convenience costs extra money.
- With tip #1 in mind, simply wake up half an hour before if you had pre-booked a ride. Yes, it means less sleep, but you'll thank yourself when you see that it can take 30 minutes to get into a car. Part of that time is spent connecting with a driver, who will sometimes drop you off without warning, after literally making you wait and watching them move painfully slowly toward you on the app's little map. Part of this time is spent looking for a new driver. Some of this time may also involve them having difficulty finding you and circling the area again before they succeed. Truth be told, the reason varies.
- Share your location with someone you trust. I'm a petite woman who can, depending on my hairstyle, pass for queer and still look like I'm still in middle school. Let's just say it brings me some comfort to know that someone knows where I am, when I'm in a car with a fifty year old man who may or may not have attended a Trump rally recently, driving in an empty wood. road at 10 p.m.
- Another reason why sharing your location is a nifty hack is that strange, albeit harmless, things can happen. When you've ridden as many times as I have, you collect moments as unusual as a Girl Scout collects badges. Take the time my driver asked me if he could use the restroom in the middle of nowhere, halfway to Williamsburg. Or the time another driver cryptically asked if we could take a “more scenic route” that would only add “a few extra minutes” to the trip. Needless to say, I came out of these instances unscathed, but it's good to have someone in the know when you make an unexpected stop or detour.
- Be prepared to sometimes be uncomfortable while in the car. I had a man tell me about the scent of deer belly button, a woman told me why she always keeps a gun in her pocket and a man told me why he is afraid for his children while the Transgender people can just walk into the bathroom. willy-nilly. There was an individual who used the word “yellow” to describe a person's ethnicity. I also heard someone listen to the same song on repeat for an hour and a half, and someone tell me how many times they had their heart broken. The key to handling political comments or oversharing is to be prepared and remain as calm, polite and courteous as possible throughout. They're just a driver, and your life is technically in their hands – it's not worth an argument or your distress.
Let's quickly return to your arrival at the airport. You might notice a few things. These things come with their own tricks.
- It's almost empty (cough Norfolk or Richmond), and you may have arrived early. Or the TSA line overflows the airport gates (cough Fort Lauderdale International Airport), and you may not get to your gate on time. The key is to know how busy your airport is and plan your arrival time accordingly.
- Your airline tells you you can only bring your backpack for free (cough Spirit Airlines). If you hear the “sorry, no carry-on bags,” welcome to the club. Dealing with this limitation can take many forms. For my part, I start packing my bags days in advance. It usually starts with a brainstorming period, during which I think about what I want to take with me to stay at home permanently, what I want to take with me but bring back, what I want to bring back from home me and what I want. I don't need to take it because I have it at home. This helps me track how much open real estate I have in my bag. Then I sort out what I most want to put in my bag. And then I stuff this friend to the brim. Another tactic I sometimes turn to is layering up like the Michelin Man in order to maximize what I can take. Imagine two pairs of leggings and jeans, plus several bras, t-shirts and sweaters…
- The airport does not have a Starbucks. By the way, Norfolk does. It's Richmond who is the problem child. And I'm not even a big fan of Starbucks. I simply hate (and those who know me know I use that word sparingly) the Ironclad Coffee that seems to monopolize this airport. If, like me, you love a little cup of pick-me-up, plan ahead by heading to Wawa or elsewhere before heading to the airport.
- You start to get nervous about the flight. Flight anxiety is a real thing. You can also develop it at any time in your life. I definitely didn't have it before this year. Maybe you're not even afraid of heights, but you're sensitive to turbulence, or you're worried about an engine malfunction or another 9/11. Anyway, may I suggest not drinking coffee before your flight? I love this drink to death, but it contains a huge amount of caffeine, which will only make your heart rate faster and your imagination run wilder. To calm yourself down instead of getting upset, try opting for a calming tea. If you are over 21, a small glass of cognac may also be helpful. Yes, you read that correctly. I have personal experience on an international flight, but if my word isn't enough, consider the scientific evidence that alcohol has tranquilizing qualities as a depressant drug. In the early 1900s, they gave neurotic women alcohol for good reason.
- Another help for those who are afraid of flying can be music. Personally, I can't keep my composure long enough to concentrate on a movie, let alone a book or an assignment. What works for me is upbeat music, especially during takeoff. Try downloading a small airplane playlist to see if it works for you.
- Share your flight number with the person waiting for you if you are visiting family. Even if they're not the one picking you up, they might find it helpful to know when to set the table or whatever. Checking your flight status is faster for them than waiting for you to text once you finally land.
Either way, I hope you find at least one of these tips relevant or helpful. If you also have your own tips, feel free to leave a comment below. That said, travel safely. Again and again.
