Chapter 1 Summary

Abby Capshaw's application for the Students Across the Seven Seas (SASS) says that her parents convinced her to apply for a study-abroad program. She looks forward to getting away from her parents and having new experiences.

Chapter 1 begins with the airplane emergency instructions as Abby prepared to depart for London. She can't understand the captain, whose British English is unintelligible to her. The narrator says that Abby is looking for a change from "the whole 'responsible thing.'" (p. 2). She describes herself as "terminally boring" and looks forward to London as a change. Abby blames her parents for being overprotective and stifling.

Abby is confused when the flight attendant offers her biscuits, and the terminology surrounding water (fizzy or still) is also confusing to her. She has studied the British English words, to orient herself, but this does not help her in the...