*updated* twice
Rachel and I made it home, almost without incident. Flying through china (5 flights in 2 weeks) has been relatively painless. Some of the seats are closer together than we’re used to, but nothing terrible, and today’s flight home was rather spacious. Going through Zhuhai airport was unbelievably fast. Five minutes after we landed Rachel and I had our bags and were buying a bus ticket into the city. It was so slick in fact that I barely had time to realize that I didn’t get my new suit back from the stewardess on the plane. I got caught in the Chinese eagerness and pushed out the door without thinking. Fortunately I remembered just as the bus was pulling away from the curb and leaped out, leaving Rachel behind with her bags. I was able to recover the garment bag without TOO much trouble, but then I had to find a new bus. The ladies told me that the next one is 90 minutes from Rachel’s bus which puts me past the times the city buses run, and leaves Rachel strafed at a bus stop with no money for an hour-and-a-half. Guh. Fortunately, the girls at the desk (there are now 4 if the surrounding me, bit none of them speak English) are so concerned that the two of us are separated that they’ve arranged for me to catch up. I’m currently on a bus all to myself, with the understanding that it will cost me no extra money. They called over a driver and explained something earnestly to him, he waived me to follow him out to the bus barn, and we’re on our way. Just the two of us. I’m sure I’ll be able to find Rachel without too much trouble. Her phone is dead, but she borrowed one and rang me to make a plan…
*update:
We reunited no problem and are safe in our apartment. Maxi met us with wonderful food so we’re happy and ready for bed (and just before the torrent of rain started)
Lesson for the day: People are incredibly helpful when they find you helpless.
*2nd update:
My Parents are home safe with no issues.
I had the suit made in Beijing, but that’s another post for another time. In fact we’ll have many out-of-order posts coming up soon as we and my parents try to return to our normal lives.