Traveling to Jersey

Hello! It's been a couple of weeks since I arrived in Jersey. After some time to recover from jet lag, it's time to explain the ordeal of getting from Butler, PA to Jersey. This would normally be a relatively simple process involving a couple of connecting flights. However, someone made the journey much more complicated:

Because of UK regulations, any pets (excluding service animals) entering the country must ride in the cargo hold. This was going to be very expensive, not to mention anxiety-inducing for both myself and Carina. I decided to fly into Paris to avoid this complication. Before flying, we both needed documents: I had to secure a visa for studying, and Carina needed an Animal Health Certificate. I would recommend starting on these ASAP if they're ever part of your travel plans; both took two to three months to procure. Carina was the problem child, as she needed certificates for both France and Jersey. Eventually, however, we had our paperwork and as many belongings as we could stuff into two suitcases.

My parents drove me to the Pittsburgh airport for my flight to Paris. Saying goodbye was difficult; I was so scared to leave the country for a year and unsure whether I was capable. Their support (as well as everyone else's) has meant everything to me throughout this transition. After making my way through security, I took a deep breath, waved to my parents from across the airport, and made my way to my flight.

My first flight was to Montreal. It was delayed slightly, so I missed my connection to Paris. The airway thankfully put me on the next flight; I was only delayed by about four hours. I made it to the Charles de Gaulle airport with enough time to clear customs and find my way to the train station. Carina charmed everyone around her and was content to sit under the plane seat in her carrier.

While the US has an extensive network of highways, it should take notes on Europe's railway system. I was able to travel across France over the course of several hours, enjoying the scenery and the energy saved by public transport. Carina and I arrived in St Malo on the evening of Day Two, now with an extra day for exploring since the ferry was delayed due to rough conditions.

St Malo was an absolutely lovely place to spend my surplus day in France. I was lucky enough to be stuck in a town known for its history of privateering, fortresses, and excellent food. Everyone was kind and excused my poor attempts at French. From la porte de Dinan to Saint-Vincent Cathedral, the environment was perfect for recharging before the final leg of my journey.

On the morning of Day 4, Carina and I were up early to catch our ride to Jersey. I had panicked during my summer preparations upon learning that foot passengers could not bring pets aboard. However, I was fortunate enough to find a lovely couple traveling to Jersey who were willing to let Carina sleep in the car en route. This was the first place that actually checked the pet paperwork, so it was a relief to board. The ferry ride was only an hour or two and was fairly smooth. Once we were back on land, the Jersey immigrations staff checked our documents again, and then I was free to catch a ride to my dorm!

Long story short, it takes a significant amount of planning to travel internationally, and you should always expect the plan to completely derail. All jokes aside, I am incredibly grateful to everyone who made this journey possible. I'll write soon about my first weeks on Jersey!