Most importantly, I made it home safely. I woke up at 5:30am to catch my taxi to the airport, and had to take my blood sugar meter to the clinic in Terminal 1 since nobody at check-in was sure that I could take it on the plane. It's a good thing I showed up early or that little bit of running around might have made me miss my flight. I waited around my gate until 9:35am, and it was practically deserted.
The waiting area was a good indication: the plane was maybe only half-full. There was no one sitting beside me, but the lady with the aisle-seat had so much stuff that it filled up the seat between us, the floor in front of all 3 seats, and her entire lap. Considering that she had turned herself into a human barrier between me and the aisle, I didn't get to do much walking around the plane during my almost 16 hour flight to JFK airport in New York. On top of that, I had managed to develop a cold the night before, which meant that I was running on only 3 hours of sleep. I slept maybe another 3 on the airplane, but mostly spent my time watching movies and trying to sleep (though failing miserably).
At least I got to stretch my legs once I got to New York. Everything immediately seemed strange once I was back in America. The people were different, the language was different. I'm so accustomed to hearing English and assuming that someone is talking to me. Of course, from my point of view, it's arguable whether or not whatever they speak in New York City counts as English. Sorry guys, once a southerner, always a southerner.
The whole atmosphere changed as soon as I got off the plane. It wasn't better than in Hong Kong, or any worse for that matter. It's difficult to explain but everything was just different. JFK wasn't a fun airport to have a layover in, but that's understandable. A word of advice to anyone traveling to or from the USA: avoid JFK. You can't find anything and the people working there are clueless and unhelpful.
I got turned around there a lot less than I did on my way to Hong Kong back in June, but it still took forever for me to find my gate. In fact, my gate number was changed 3 times before my plane left. Around 3:30pm, I got on the smallest puddle-jumper I've ever seen in my life and--along with no more than 20 other people--started the 2-hour flight to Charlotte, North Carolina.
I met a cool guy on the plane who was teaching English in the Philippines for 2 years to earn money for graduate school, and we chatted for a bit. He gave me his phone number and email in case I'm ever in the Philippines and want someone more local to show me around. However, considering that the village where he's teaching is over one hour's drive from the nearest town with a grocery store, I doubt I'll run into him if/when I visit.
About 5:30pm, we flew over Charlotte. I couldn't get a very clear picture, but this was my view from the airplane:
After such a long day, it felt good not only to be in the United States but in the South, where people speak with that familiar and beloved drawl that I hadn't realized I missed so much! Since Charlotte-Douglas International is such a tiny airport, I quickly made it to baggage claim.
My parents and sister were going to pick me up, but Sarah didn't feel well so only my parents came. They had told me that I would be able to spot them immediately, but I didn't know what they had in mind. It turns out they made me a wonderfully-tacky sign with my Chinese name--麦蕊蕊--on it. Naturally, I had to take a picture with my mom:
And with my dad (although the "bunny ears" are totally uncalled-for):
After all of us crazy touchy-feely Westerners got our hugs and kisses out of the way, we loaded my suitcase into my dad's pickup truck (new since I left) and went for a late dinner at Buca di Beppo...definitely the best Italian food I've had in the last 6 months. We caught up on things, which mostly means I talked both parents' ears off. They're good sports, though, and just let me keep going.
All this week, I've been recovering from the cold I had when I arrived. It's mostly gone now, but I gave it to Sarah, and now it looks like Mom might have it. Whoops. Hopefully, Dad can slip by, but only time will tell. It's nothing too serious, however, and being home for the holidays is such a great feeling. I literally spent all afternoon today wrapping Christmas presents. Granted, only a very small fraction of them are from me, but pretty much every year, I do the wrapping (except for the ones meant for me, of course). Now our Christmas tree looks complete with tacky holiday ornaments, multicolored lights, and presents with partially-shredded wrapping paper (courtesy of the 3 cats) underneath.
I'll take more pictures in the days to come, but for now I wish everyone back at CUHK good luck on their exams (加油!), and wish everyone Merry Christmas!
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