A series of unfortunate events

It's 2 a.m. here in Bangkok. I left Kansas City at 8 a.m. It is currently 2 p.m. in Lenexa, which means I have been traveling for a good 26 hours! That being said, let's take a look at the series of unfortunate events that led me to my final destination, Bangkok.

Event 1: The tearful goodbye

Having gone to bed 2 a.m. due to poor packing planning and up only a few hours later, I found myself delusional and somewhat mellow for my departure from Kansas City. While my mom and dad gave tearful goodbyes and last pieces of advice, all I could fathom was how unbearably heavy my backpack was. If you know my dad, Steve, it is painful to watch him cry. I love the man, but he has this crazy, distorted smile which I assume is some poor attempt to hide any emotion from spilling out of him. Well dad, it didn't work! I will miss you and love you for those awkard tears you try so desperately to hide. Patty on the other hand smooshed against the glass separating us until that final moment where I rounded the corner into the plane, all the while texting me things like, "Stupid family is blocking you [from her view]," and "peek to the side, please!" or my personal favorite, "fat boy is blocking ... and you're gone."

Regardless of the strange, bittersweet goodbyes, I found out only minutes before boarding that I was actually flying to Chicago instead of Denver because the flight in Denver had been delayed, meaning I would miss my connecting flight in Tokyo. So off to Chicago I went, half asleep yet excited, that was, until, event number 2.

Event 2: "We would never bow to you"

I arrived in Chicago right on schedule. I roamed the airport without purpose until finding a restroom. I took my time finding my gate. I felt good. That was until the woman working with United was so sorry to inform me that my flight had been delayed by six hours, thus making me miss my connecting flight in Tokyo (which was the whole reason I flew to Chicago in the first place). What's my next best option? The woman was surprisingly calm, which rubbed off on me, and I could slowly feel my fists unclenching. I was told that I could fly to Tokyo on All Nippon Airways, a Japanese airline. I wasn't completely opposed, but I had specificaly chosen to fly an American airline because it was spacious and was fearful of being on a plane where, potentially, no one could understand me. That's when the woman replied, "The service is so good, the flight attendants bow to you. We would never bow to you."

And with that I was running. 40 pound backpack knocking the wind out of me from behind with every passing stride. I had about ten minutes to cover the length of O'Hare International Airport or else I would never make it to Bangkok any time soon. Sweating and panting, I threw my passport on the desk and hoped for the best. Luckily, the man working was young and could smell my desperation to get on that plane. I sat in the middle of two people. There were about four movies total to choose from and little leg room, but the food was amazing! I have never had beef and rice for breakfast, and I plan on having it again.

Once I was in Tokyo, I met a lot of people from my program as well as two native Thais. We learned a lot in that four hour layover, from what to wear to what cities to avoid. We boarded and I was once again greeted by someone who was in the same program in my aisle. My luck had changed, or so I thought.

Breakfast on the plane consisted of salad, a roll, beef, carrots, broccoli and white wine

Event 3: Bye bye baggage

After arriving in Bangkok and seamlessly going through immigration, I was frustrated (yet not entirely surprised) that my suitcase was nowhere to be found. There were 15 of us picking up baggage from the same area, and, of course, my suitcase was the only one not there. After 30 minutes of trying to explain to a woman who spoke very little English my problem, I left the airport in hopes I would get a call here soon saying it has magically showed up.

That was about two hours ago, and thank some higher being or something because my luggage has been found! Supposedly someone from the airport is going to drop it off, but I have little faith in my travels as of now so we will wait and see. Regardless, I am so thankful to have finally arrived in Bangkok in one, sweaty piece. I'm so tired but want to stay up for my luggage, so I apologize for any mispellings and lack of creativity here. Leave me alone, it's been 25 hours, okay?