Leaving China and arriving home [October 20]

[aadler]

Susan and I both got up at 5:00 AM, made our morning preparations, and finished the final packing that had to be left for the last moment. Kevin had said we’d be picked up at 6:00, and he was there to help carry the bags down. We loaded the stuff into Logan’s car, then Kevin went back up to the apartment to stay there till time for work.

(Susan gave Kevin all our remaining Chinese money, about $30 worth; he responded by passing over an American $100 bill. Parity.)

Logan drove us to the point where he had picked us up on arrival, and from there he passed us over to Laura and Mei-li. Laura had already bought tickets for a shuttle taxi, and the four of us (and one other traveler) crossed into Hong Kong and to the airport. We were several hours early, but that’s generally prudent for international travel. As we were ready to pass from the outer terminal to the parts for passengers only, Mei-li gave us 200 Hong Kong dollars (about $25 US) to buy something to eat.

That didn’t go far, at airport prices, but we got a couple of soft drinks, a sandwich, and a couple of muffins for Susan. Susan napped some while I kept an eye out; with about fifteen minutes to go, I ascertained that our gate had changed … but, fortunately, only a minute’s walk away. We boarded on time, took off on time, and were in the air.

As I did last time, I mostly watched movies. At some point, though, I started feeling queasy, and stopped watching so I could monitor myself. Susan kept watching movies, crocheted, slept, took the meals as they arrived. I don’t think I ate anything after … well, it’s a rough calculation, but I believe it would have been about noon U.S. Central time.

Airport change in Chicago, and we had to walk forever. Customs, then to get our luggage and pass it over for the connecting flight, then walking and walking and walking to the shuttle, then more walking from the shuttle to our gate. I was wearing out by this point — over the past several hours it had become clear that I was coming down with something — but we got there.

Routine from that point. The Chicago flight took us to our nearest in-state airport, and from there it was an hour’s drive home. I let Susan take the first part of that, because I was feeling rotten; she gave me the last part, because she was so tired her eyes were starting to blur. But we got home, and I WeChat notifed Kevin and Mei-li that we had safely arrived … and I went promptly to bed, it was about 9:30 PM by that point (as I best remember), and I wanted nothing more than sleep.

***

I wound up sleeping most of the following day as well; I was sick. Two days later, we picked up Susan’s dogs from the doggie dude ranch where she’d left them (and that cost not quite as much as our airline tickets had).

We’re still drifting back into our normal lives. We’re back at work, but we’ve taken turns being sick, and a lot of things that we’d put off till the China trip had been done? still waiting for us to take care of them. We’re home, though, and that’s pretty much that.

Comments

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

Glad you got home safe and sound, but sorry you picked up an illness as a souvenir. Hope you feel better.


Gabrielle

[aadler]

I think we may have got sick with something else while we were still debilitated with the first round, because it’s gone back and forth since we returned. I’m mostly back to normal now, Susan taking a bit longer but likewise nearly there.

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry you were ill. I trust you are better now if you've returned to work. The Chicago airport is awful! Nothing is close to anything else. I swear I have walked miles in that airport.

[aadler]

Oh, I know it can get worse than that. Susan calls Heathrow ‘the seventh circle of Hell’. I’m happy to take her word for it rather than investigating for myself.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you made it home safe and I hope you feel better soon.

[aadler]

Getting there.