5:59am Eastern time, Saturday May 12th
I’ve been awake for a whole hour. I’m in my sister’s guest
room writing. I haven’t really blogged in months but hey- jet lag will do that
to you. THAT of course, means awaken you to nothing but infomercials for a CD
collection of soul, Sensa- a new diet powder you sprinkle on food and magically
lose weight, various work out programs, a home microdermabrasion product, and
two different acne products on two different channels. I’m watching a fishing
show.
I’ve been doing a little scheming over the past few months.
My sister Alison is getting married in a few weeks and of course I had to
return to Georgia for the big event. The question came up as to when I would
visit and somehow the plan to surprise my mom for Mother’s Day came into my
mind. And so- it took some scheming and 2 handfuls of lies but I am
successfully in Georgia and (hopefully) she has no idea. Alison convinced me to
wait until Sunday (though I got into town on Friday night) to surprise her.
My mom is pretty much my best friend. She and I can chat on
the phone for hours and I can tell her pretty much everything. She inspired
(and shares in) my love of the Beatles and taught me most of what I know. I’m
so excited to see her! It’s kind of killing me to wait another 36 hours.
SO. George took me and my two very heavy bags to the shuttle
that would take me to the airport. I only forgot one thing and made George race
back home to get it before the bus left at 1pm. I know he was annoyed, but it
was only ONE thing. It could be much worse. (Since then I’ve realized about 20
other things I forgot, but oh well.)
I got to the airport by 3pm and went to check in for my
6:15pm flight. The very tiny and sweet Japanese girl (she looked like she was
18 but was probably 35) informed me that the flight to Dallas was oversold. She
offered another route through Chicago that would put me in Atlanta 2 hours
later than I had planned on. She also offered me an upgrade to business class
if I would accept. Now, let me tell you- if you have ever flown on a plane for
longer than 4 hours you know how bad flying in coach sucks. As she weighed my
bags (the largest one was 22.9kg’s—23 is the limit… awesome!) and scanned my
passport she seemed surprised when I volunteered to fly through Chicago if they
would put me in business class. Why she would be confused was beyond me. I was
psyched.
I did a lap around the Narita airport, went through security
and found a restaurant where I ordered katsu curry. Yum. Perfect send off from
Japan. I ordered a beer from an imitation Starbucks and took it to my gate. As
I went to my gate I bumped into a very tall lady with short blond hair and a
business suit. We both apologized and I sat down, only to find her sitting a
few chairs away. We smiled politely. Later I went to the bathroom. She was
behind me in line. After the bathroom I hit a vending machine to get a bottle
of water. She was behind me there. She promised she wasn’t stalking me. She
seemed friendly enough so I decided to not be scared.
I boarded the plane when they called business class. I was
surrounded my middle-aged white guys in business suits. They all had shoulder
bags. I guess briefcases are a thing of the past. As many of them made small
talk with me in line, I realized I was the only woman. I wished I had on a
business suit too and silently pretended I was a very important businesswoman
(I couldn’t decide on a business) who had just been in Tokyo for the week at a
business conference. Far from my real life as a military wife who nannies one
day a week and teaches English 3.5 hours a week. I was glad no one ever asked
me what kind of business I was in. They could probably tell by my Old Navy
jacket, Target t-shirt and really dirty Sperry’s I was not on a business trip.
I got to my seat. It was in the middle of two white business
men who greeted me warmly. One helped me put my orange/gray backpack in the
overhead compartment while the other showed me how to work my chair. I tried to
not act like I had never flown in business class but I was SO excited! The
chair was HUGE. The overweight gentleman (now referred to as right businessman)
had enough leg room that his legs were stretched all the way out. I put my
purse in the compartment in front of me, (not even a chair in front of me.) I couldn’t
even reach my purse from my chair without taking off my seatbelt and getting
out of my seat. I had a remote for my TV, slippers, a toiletry kit, a full
sized pillow, and a really warm quilted blanket (no fleece in business class!).
I felt like royalty as the flight attendant offered me champagne. I accepted
it, by the way.
I tried to turn my TV on and businessman on the left showed
me how to work the remote (channels, volumes, how to call the flight
attendant—he also must have mistaken me for an 80 year old lady that couldn’t
work a remote. I am 24, but did appreciate the offer.) The two gentlemen
exchanged some chatter and one complained they hadn’t brought by headsets yet.
(Mind you, the coach passengers hadn’t even finished boarding yet and I was 2
champagnes in) Businessman on the right explained to me they would bring around
headsets soon. I said, “Oh, I have my own” and got out my white headphones that
came with my iPod. He said, “Oh, I guess you could use those if they’re nice
enough.” I wanted to retort, “These are made by Apple. I have an iPhone. I am
cool.” Instead I politely said “well, they work.” 15 minutes later when the
flight attendant brought around BOSE noise cancelling headsets I felt kind of
dumb and threw my very uncool Apple headphones in my purse. I missed. That’s
how much room is down there.
Before takeoff the flight attendant brought around menus for
us to choose our meals. Here is what a business class menu looks like:
To Start: Warm mixed nuts
Appetizer: A selection of sushi
Salad: Fresh seasonal greens offered with pickled ginger
vinaigrette or premium extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Bread Basket: Assorted gourmet breads
Main course:
Roasted Chicken Provencal—Roast breast of chicken accented
by Provencal sauce, asparagus and chateau carrots, served with saffron
couscous.
Beef Fillet with Madeira Sauce—Grilled tenderloin of beef in
a Madeira sauce, accompanied by seasonal vegetables and roasted new potatoes.
Black Cod Miso Yaki—Miso marinated black cod served with
teriyaki sauce, assorted sautéed vegetables and steamed rice.
Shrimp Noodle Bowl—shrimp with oyster sauce, sautéed
peppers, shiitake mushrooms and bok choy served over noodles.
Dine Upon Request—You may choose one of the featured entrees
to be served with an appetizer and dessert, presented all at one, at any time
you wish.
Steamed rice is available upon request.
Dessert: Ice Cream—Vanilla ice cream accompanied by
raspberry sauce and crumble topping.
Now that you’re all nice and hungry I’ll stop copying the
menu and just tell you this went on explaining snacks, a large mid-flight snack
(I had a large chicken sandwich) and a Light Meal prior to landing (I had
Teriyaki Chicken)
It was wonderful.
I watched “The Vow” and “Bad Teacher”, read some of my newly
downloaded and hysterical Tina Fey biography “Bossypants” (literally laughing
out loud on an airplane kind of funny… don’t worry, everyone had on BOSE
headsets, no one could hear me laugh) I also napped solidly for about 6 hours.
Ever done that on a plane? No? That’s because your chair probably didn’t
recline completely flat and you weren’t given an eye cover, noise cancelling
headphones (that really do work) a pillow, blanket and slippers to make you
feel comfy and cozy.
I’m sorry; I must sound like a snob. That one flight was all
it took to turn me into a (hopefully) temporary snob. I do apologize for my
raving. I was impressed though. I’m pretty sure I’ll pout and complain and be
SO unhappy when I fly in my rightful place in coach on the way back to Tokyo in
a few weeks. But for now, I choose to relish in my happiness. J
I landed in Chicago to find tall blond lady behind me in the
line at the bathroom. She followed me through customs. At baggage claim she
says “I assume you’ll be sitting next to me on my connecting flight to Atlanta
too?” Turns out we didn’t sit next to each other but we were on the same
flight. It was pretty funny she was everywhere. And no, she never did try to
kill me.
I went to the USO to get some free Wi-Fi and call Sprint and
get my phone set up. One hour later it was working. I hung out there about 2
more hours reading and playing with my
I got to my gate just in time for boarding and they included
“military members and their families” in their first class call so I took
advantage of that and boarded, just to be turned away by the flight attendant
due to maintenance issues. (No, I didn’t get business/first class on this
flight). I went back out to the gate for about 15 minutes and they re-boarded
those of us who had already scanned through with our boarding pass. I got in my
seat and buckled in and then realized no one else besides us original 10 people
was on the plane and on came some maintenance men. They spent about 40 minutes
on the plan fixing something with the lighting (I told them we could use our
cellphone to illuminate the exit path should we need it—that didn’t seem to
suffice). As we waited we all chit-chatted as Jose, the very lovely flight
attendant offered us all wine and beer as we waited. I was SO glad I wasn’t
sitting out at the gate NOT getting free booze.
One guy had just separated from the Army and this was his
flight from Tokyo home to permanently live in Georgia with his family. His plan
was to use his GI Bill to get an education and move back to Japan as soon as he
found a job there. I was excited for him to start his new life. We found common
ground in Japan, and both of us had nothing but good things to say about it.
Every once in a while I’ll cross paths with someone who
hates/hated Japan. Those are the people who never leave/left the base. Those
people are sad and I feel so disappointed for them.
We eventually landed in Atlanta and my little brother came
and picked me up from baggage claim. I was SO happy to see him. It’s been a
year and I’ve missed him dearly. He brought me to my sister’s house and I was
so happy to be in the presence of my brother and sister. Living on the other
side of the world is hard, and I miss them every single day. I am elated to
spend a few weeks with them and celebrate my sister and her fiancé Brent.
Three Cheers for family “Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip
hip hooray!” Ok. I’ll stop now.
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Tokyo Time