The Trip Back Home

As I write this I am already back home in America greatly and missing my wonderful (laopo) wife.  This is the second most difficult part of our relationship.  The most difficult part is actual leaving.  I know I will have more stories to tell but I wanted to let my friends know I was back home; working.

August 1st, Wednesday, in the evening Xin Jiao and spent a long time in a long hug.  It seems like it was an hour long.  We talked, cried, laughed, kissed, cried a little more and told each other how much we were going to miss each other.  This was the most difficult separation for us to to date.

Neither one of us wanted me to leave.  I honestly feel that I could stay there the rest of my life but I don't know how I would support us financially.  I'm sure there is a way but I don't see it.  Well??? I could teach English there but there are certificates to obtain and I am too close to retirement to walk away from my job.

These last few hours together are special.  There is a closeness, a bonding, a gentle time where our love for each other deepens as we know we will be apart for at least one year.  Yes we talk on the Internet almost everyday but it isn't the same.  I can't touch her; I can't feel her heart beat; I can't smell the freshness of her beautiful long jet black hair.

August 2nd.  The trip started out pretty good.  I took a minivan rather than the ferry to Hong Kong.  Xin Jiao and I were at the Holiday Inn at 6:00am and waited about 45 minutes for the minivan.

We watched a young man post the results from the Olympics in the lobby.  It was rather comical to me.   He pulled the previous result from all of the teams listed then put China's new score up then he left.  The US was completely scoreless.  He returned about 30 minutes later with new numbers and began posting them and posted the U.S. last.  It was funny but it was his way of competing I guess.  The hotel was full of Americans.

The minibus arrived and I was whisked off to another location where I was moved from a Chinese minivan to a Hong Kong minivan. This new van would also have 7 passengers.  There were 6 and at the last minute a young woman appeared.  The only place left was in the back seat and she refused to sit there.  After much argument the man sitting next to me moved back there and then she sat next to me.  She verbally fought with some of the passengers and the driver for about 15 minutes.

Once at the airport everything went smoothly.  I did notice at the Delta counter that the people were wearing different uniforms and name badges that previous Delta employees in the U.S.  There wasn't a delta logo on any of them.  I think maybe they are and independent contacting company for Delta. The reason I am pointing it out is because this was the only flight that there wasn't any issues for me.

The flight to Detroit was very good and we arrived 1 hour early but that was also where the problems began.  I was going to have to sit in the airport for 5 hours.  About an hour from the scheduled time for us to leave for Atlanta, Delta told us that the airplane would be 2 hours late due to weather.  NOT AGAIN!!!!!!

True to their word the airplane was 2 hours late.  The new crew arrived and went thought their testing procedures and both engines failed.  At first they said the airplane would be another 2 hours late.  About 30 minutes later they announced that the flight would be canceled because the mechanics were going to need more time.  As I was making arrangements for another flight the gate personnel announced that they found another airplane and we could fly in that one but it would take 1 hour to service it with food and everything. Of course there wasn't any food on the flight.  At the same time I found out that my connecting flight would be delayed and I could possibly make it if I hurried once we landed.

When we landed in Atlanta as we taxied to the terminal people began standing and getting their things.  The attendants told everyone to sit and they did.  This happened 3 times before arriving at the gate.  The attendants announced that there were several people that had tight connections and that they would appreciate it if they would allow these people to get off first.  Well that didn't happen.

Once we arrived at the gate people stood up again.  The attendant announced that the pilot would not allow the doors to be opened until everyone was seated.  All but 9 sat down and they refused to.  There was a standoff for 10 minutes and the standing passengers finally won and we got off.

I went to the next terminal with lightening speed and when I got to the gate the gate had been changed.  Fortunately it was only 3 gates away.  When I arrived there the airplane was still there but the gate agents would not let me on.  They said the door to the airplane was closed and had been for 2 minutes and they would not re-open it for me.  The airplane stayed there another 20 minutes and left with out me.

They put me on standby for another flight and I managed to get on that one but it left at 1:00am Friday morning.  By the time I got home I had been awake 46 hours minus a few little catnaps.

Delta has become absolutely the worst airline in the industry as far as I am concerned.  Their customer service is horrible.  Yesterday I contacted them about it.  I was given a special phone number to call that was suppose to be in the headquarters building.  The woman on the other end really didn't want to listen and told me to go to the website and there was a portal to email them the info.  She said they would respond to my complaint.  I said bull that she was simply putting me off.  I did follow her instructions so we will see.

The jet lag has kicked in full swing and I'm barely able to keep my eyes open at times.  About 8:00pm I'm ready to call it a night.