Incheon Landing

Well, "this" morning (Monday, July 29th, Chicago time) came all too quickly. I had to give my baby-dog a hug goodbye and kissed his little brown face one last time. He watched us drive away from his usual post at the front window. My mom and I got to the airport with little trouble. She parked the car and came back to meet me just as I was getting my bags checked in. I told the guy my bag was over the weight limit and he took my credit card to the 'finance lady'. He was gone for 1-2 minutes and returned saying she wasn't in her office and he didn't want to wait and make me wait so he said he'd just let it go! How amazing is that! A wonderful send off. O'Hare has changed their international terminal since last September and going through security was a little bit different-a long hallway and then all the x-ray machines. Again, I went through without any trouble and made some last phone calls while I waited to board the plane.

My section was the first to board (in the very back) and I was fortunate enough to get both bags in the overhead container right above me and my seatmate. He was young-my age and did not offer to help me lift my gigantic carry-on bags into the compartment. Oh well. It was an uneventful ride; I watched 4 movies and slept for about 3 hours total. Food was alright.

We landed ahead of schedule, luckily Bohye had been checking my flight info and alerted her parents of this. Anyway, I got through customs and got my bags without much delay. I went through and...no parents. I waited about 5 minutes and Mrs. Kim arrived. We went outside and loaded my bags into Mr. Kim's car. Then we went to go pick Bohye up from work and went to Lotte Department Store for dinner. Bohye and I went to an American buffet. We returned to their home and managed to get my bags up their 3 stories but not without battle wounds. My "new" carpetbag courtesy of Mrs. Kearney broke a strap. :( My hard-top suitcase has 2 latches to close and one of them continues to 'pop' open even after being shut. The one alone is enough to keep it closed, but I'm guessing only for gentle transportation. If it gets tossed off the airplane onto a conveyer belt, it might just explode. We'll see.

Bohye gave me her old cellphone to use--she's trying to get another used one for me. But anyway, I have internet and kakao talk (which is basically free text and call app) and a phone so I'm all set. I shifted some things around in my bags tonight and gave my gifts. It's already 10:40pm here so I think I'm ready to call it a day!

First meal on the plane