The Big Adventure - Part 2-1: Flying

...(continued from previous post)

Dark and early on Saturday morning, about 4:00 AM, we were up and dressed in the pre-selected, unpacked outfits I had laid out. We tracked down a luggage dolly and started for the lobby after only about 10 minutes of stacking and re-stacking boxes like it was a logic puzzle. At this point we were loaded down with one massive box that was 6 cubic feet, holding our camping equipment and miscellaneous large items. Also with us were 3 smaller boxes, about 3 cubic feet each, of uniforms, shoes, and items we didn't think we would need immediately when we arrived. Then came the clothing and more "important" items. more uniforms, clothes, essential toiletries, and the x-box, which ended up in our 2 checked luggage pieces (an invaluable wedding gift from my grandparents). Finally, a small suitcase, mini-duffel, backpack, and purse were close by our sides, with copies on copies of official orders, passports, contact numbers, books, snacks, and anything else we thought we might possibly need in the next 2 days (notice how we still haven't made it out of the lobby yet?).

Luckily, at the painfully wee hours of the morning there wasn't a huge demand for the shuttle to the airport, and that saved us from having to pay about 3 taxis to take our "essentials". After we loaded down a party-bus style airport shuttle we made our way to the drop off spot at the airport. For those of you following along, this is one of the only things that actually works out without undue stress and/or a do-over. Then, the fun starts. Even at 4:30 AM on a Saturday morning, the airport is never a fun place to be with so much stuff to lug around.

Luckily, our super nice shuttle driver helped us track down some of the abandoned carts around the parking lot, and we loaded up our boxes and suitcases onto two of them, and each of us pushed one, while towing a large rolling suitcase behind us (casters are such a win on that luggage). We were quite a site. Shoving ourselves into elevators and across sky-walks, it took us a solid 10 minutes to push all of our boxes to the ticket counter (which if it had been a straight walk, was only about 50 yards away). Pushing our things up to the roped off line area, were were sad to find out that the 5 person line we saw before us, was actually about a 50 yard-long line that was actually out the door and down the terminal. SO, back through the terminal with our luggage caravan, and outside to wait in the first of so many lines. Seeing my mounting stress Casey saved both of our sanity by setting the tone for the rest of the day. He pointed out that we were hours early, and had all of our paperwork ready, so there was no reason to feel like we need to rush, and with that I went ahead and accepted that no matter how long the line, being patient was the only way I'd land in Japan with any sort of grip on myself and my sanity. Trying to copy the cool-as-a-cucumber attitude doesn't come naturally to me (shocker), so those first 20 minutes in line seemed to last forever. I think what turned me was seeing another man, also with boxes, trying to scribble out "FRAGILE", on one of his own boxes in pen. Knowing that the airport workers likely wouldn't see the pen-writing on his boxes, and being ridiculously over-prepared, I pulled a thick black sharpie from my purse and let him borrow it. As he got called into the coveted "inside line" with his now obviously-marked-fragile box, I realized that I had over-prepared so much, I couldn't do any more and it was best to just let the system take me through the paces. Combining this with Casey's easy-going attitude I think I made it a lot easier on everyone the remainder of the trip. We finished out the time in the "outside line" quickly enough after that, mostly by just trying to keep my tired eyes open in the dark morning hours.

Once inside we got ushered into another line, and I was surprised to see that the family in front of us actually had more luggage than we did. Seeing this made me feel a little better and brought me to another realization: even though I didn't do this everyday, all of the airline people did. The 20+ nearly-identical suitcases of the family in front of us didn't really phase the counter workers, and so when we were called up for our turn I was relieved that no one was particularly impressed with our amount of luggage. We were checking in fairly quickly, by a very nice counter worker, who even took the time to explain that when we arrived in Japan, we would have to pay for some of our extra baggage, and pointed out which of the boxes were the lightest, so we would know which ones to deem "extra" when we got there (Japan charges extra baggage fees by weight instead of per bag). So now we were 6 large pieces of checked luggage lighter and went on to line number three: the first security checkpoint.

Again, having been insanely over prepared, we had our laptops packed so as to be easily-accessible, the zip-loc of our liquids was sealed and ready to be scanned without unpacking everything in sight, and the pre-selected outfits were metal free (except Casey's removable belt buckle, he thought ahead too!). We cleared our metal detector screenings and went to pick up our bags at the other end without a hitch. Just kidding! We got selected for an additional security screening because of suspicious object on the x-ray (awesome), so while Casey went to lace up his boots and put our computers away, I went with the security officer and one of our bags for a search. When I realized he was looking for something particular, I asked if I could help him locate the "suspicious item". His response was, "I think I found it, but if this is a roll of coins or something I'm going to be so mad". Heart sinks. "What, Why?" I say while trying not to look extremely near tears, because we did in-fact have about 2 rolls of silver dollar coins, and a few rolls of silver quarters and such in our carry on (not something you want to check, like expensive jewelery). He kind of chuckles and says that it's because he already told the x-ray screener that that's what he thought the weird image on the screen was in the first place, and now he's just wasting his time. WHEW! I thought I was going to be escorted out of the airport for carrying a prohibited amount of silver through security or something, which would have been a tragedy considering I had read that list about a hundred times while packing to ensure that this very thing wouldn't happen. After putting the suitcase through the x-ray again and coming back to announce that he rubbed it in the screener's face that he was right all along about the coins, I was shooed on to the gate area. At least I knew that we would probably be checked at all of the security points now, so I could be mentally prepared.

Now that it's about 6:10 AM and we are sitting at the gate we have ample time to eat some breakfast and get ready for the first flight. Happily, this was just a quick one, as it was a just a short hop to our jump-off point of San Francisco. It gave me just enough time to eat my breakfast and have some coffee while I read the in-flight magazine, and Casey read on his Nook (which is like a Kindle, smart buy, he uses it all the time). The airline couldn't get us assigned seats together though, so as we boarded I was glad to see that Casey's intended seat-mate was more than willing to swap isle seats with me.

Once landed in San Fran we found our way to our gate in the international terminal and tried to decide how we would pass the 2-plus hours of layover time. Layover are the worst. But a few trips to the magazine/snack shops, and trips to the restroom, coupled with a nice walk around the terminal to tire us out (we're still toting luggage and it's still not even 9:00 AM) ended up filling the time easily. We even sat in a Mexican restaurant and hydrated and snacked a little. The next flight was going to be about 11 hours and I was eager to try to sleep through most of it. Already, I was heavy-eyed from our late night of last minute packing, car shipping panic, and early wake up.

Finally, we were boarding our plane to the Narita (Tokyo) Airport! We settled into our seats, and were pleased to see a very small little boy sitting as our company, which made for extra elbow room! Even though we packed fairly lightly, the under seat storage was pathetic at best and the space was cramped even with only our small pieces under us. Too excited to sleep right away, I spent most of the early flight reading and waiting for lunch (didn't want to sleep through that!). I decided that sleeping between the two in-flight meals would take up the most time, and keep me most fed :). Also a bonus, the flights over the Pacific provide complimentary beer and wine. So a full belly, a glass of wine, and a lack of sleep put me to sleep about as soon as they could clear my tray table. I'm not sure how long I slept exactly, but that was the shortest 11 hour flight of my life. The $2 neck pillows I snagged at the bargain bins at target were amazing and Casey and I both caught at least more sleep than the night before. I woke up to an announcement for the next meal and a new seat companion (the little boy traded seats with his sister). After we ate our second meal, the in flight movie came on and by the time it was over we started our decent. I was so pleased with how quick it all seemed that I felt it was confirmation of my "be a sheep" policy for the trip. I just let them herd me from one place to the other and they make sure I'm fed and arrive alive. Worked like a charm.

Smooth landing into Tokyo...to be continued.