Homeward Bound: The (literally) Breathless Journey

After a full 24 hours traveling from NYC's UWS to Taipei, I think I've somehow already beaten the jetlag and my internal clock is set to Taipei time. A somewhat triumphant beginning to my new life back home. But the trip itself wasn't all fun and games.

It started out smoothly enough. I arrived at the check-in counter somewhat behind schedule but EWR's international terminal seemed eerily quiet. No lines, no screaming children or hollering security guards directing traffic. I sauntered up to the EVA check-in counter with probably the biggest suitcase you can imagine (and I KNOW it exceeded weight restrictions) and two duffel bags (yes, amounting to a total of 3 bags) to check in. Thankfully, it's all been taken care of beforehand and Daddy already had his ppl call the arlines ppl. One of the baggage men, upon seeing my overweight luggage, demanded me to pay the overweight fee. I ignored him, and the check-in girl shushed him and handed him some Priority tags to put on my 3 bags. Then she handed me my boarding pass and a VIP lounge pass. Merci beaucoup! I couldn't help but let out the teensiest smirk.

As I approached my assigned seat, I saw that the entire row was empty. Awesome! This was going to be a wonderful trip. If only they had shut the gates a few minutes earlier. A panty old Vietnamese couple came running in as the engines revved up. I waited with baited breath as they headed towards me down the aisle. Then they fatefully stopped next to me. %(*%$$%! My dreams, shattered! I scooted in to give them their seats and was immediately assaulted by the foulest smell I have EVER experienced in my life. I have never inhaled that smell before and couldn't even begin to identify it. All I know is that I immediately felt nauseous and sick to my stomach and began to hatch an escape plan. The moment we were in the air, I was going to move all my belongings to another empty seat.

No such luck. Despite it being "low season", all the seats were taken (interestingly, mostly by Vietnamese ppl. At one point, I wondered if I was indeed on a flight back to TPE because I could not understand a single word of the chatter that surrounded me). Well, I was going to have to suck it up (the putrid smell, i mean). I soon realized that it was coming from a plastic bag the old lady next to me had in front of her. As the flight wore on, I was dying 1) from asphyxiation and 2) to find out from what monstrosity a stench like that could emanate. But all I could do was to try to breathe through my mouth and to elevate myself for any gasp of fresh air I could get.

By the 18th hour, as we began our descent, I was delirious from lack of air and food. I had lost any appetite I had on the flight. I pledged to myself that I would not let that toxic monstrosity into this country in which I will now permanently reside. I must do this is for my (new) countrypeople! I imagined myself grabbing a customs officer by the arm and pointing him to the bag like a drug-sniffing dog. He would open it, inhale it and immediately gaggle and choke in tears. Oops, teehee, I should have warned you!

As we deplaned, I surreptitiously kept my eye on the old couple, tagging closely behind them. I was on a mission, though I wasn't sure I had the balls to actually carry out my plan. Whew! It turns out I didn't have to. They made the turn towards transfers. I was relieved of my patriotic duties. Whatever they were carrying was going home with them back to Vietnam. Booyah!

On the car ride home with Mom and Dad was when I felt it all sink in - the realization that this was not another 2-week visit and that I needed to learn and settle into this ever-so-familiar yet increasingly-foreign country. Here I am again after 12 years. It's amazing to think I left this country at 13, crying for my parents and begging them to please, please let me stay. But at present, I feel both a sense of dread and anticipation for this new life I will begin to rebuild here.

This blog is where I will attempt to chronicle my adventures and thoughts as I re-acclimate myself to Taiwanese life. But more importantly, this is for all my friends back in NYC and everywhere else in the US and in other parts of the world, to keep you updated on my progress. (Since I'm not always very good at keeping in touch.) Thanks for reading! =) if in fact you did make it to the end of this extremely long entry.

And thanks, Amy, my other Wang, for sharing this blog with me. We are now thousands of miles apart but I know we are forever inextricably connected through years of friendship and infinite trouble-rousing-roomie adventures. You'll always continue be my excuse...somehow! =)