Welcome home?

After 72 long hours of traveling, I must admit that when I finally landed in NYC, I was really ready to just get on my next flight and be in Chicago already. However, JFK airport is a crazy place, and it was a bit of a shock initially when I walked in and tried to figure out where I was supposed to be going. There were also white people speaking English everywhere, so I was a bit overwhelmed…

I found myself asking a woman for assistance as to how to get to the next terminal, in very slow, broken English…and then I remembered she speaks English. And so do I. Oops.

Then I made it to my terminal and decided that the crazy madhouse of a zoo that was the current check-in process was too much for me to handle. And considering my flight was in 6 hours, I figured I could compose myself and regroup before I braved the crowds. So I found a chair in a relatively quiet corner and simply observed my surroundings. Girls in short shorts and tank tops heading to Miami, men in lavish business suits and phones with head pieces in their ears (there’s probably a name for such things, but what do I know…), young kids running around in their fancy shoes, and generally just a lot of American people everywhere.

When I started hearing complaints about cancelled flights, I figured I should probably figure out how I will figure out when/where/if I was leaving. Unfortunately, without a cell phone, quarters for the pay phone, internet access on my computer or the correct flight information, it quickly became aware that this would be tricky. Also, I was trying to maneuver with all my belongings still, and after 3 days, I was really over all of that…

And when I finally made it to the front of the line to ask the question, I got the matter-of-fact “your flight is cancelled” response. WHAT! Not possible. Shocked, I joined the next long line of people with cancelled flights to try to figure out what to do. Because there were so many people with cancellations trying to rebook, the woman told me the next flight she could guarantee was from LaGuardia at 3:15 the next day. Umm wait….WHAT?!

My next thoughts:

What on earth am I supposed to do in this city, one of the biggest cities in the WORLD, for the next 24 hours. I wanted in…and right back out!

And then the tears came…

I had no phone, and the sole pay phone was broken.

I had limited money, and didn’t expect to have to pay for a night in the city.

I needed to somehow get to the other airport and find a hotel to stay in for the night.

I was starving and needed to eat something.

I was dirty, smelly, exhausted from such a long journey.

And I was alone.

And more tears came.

The woman kindly gave me a few meal vouchers (although for a different terminal which was highly unhelpful seeing as the airport was under construction and I’d have to walk most of the way with all my stuff…oh, and I’ve failed to mention, but the wheels on my suitcase broke so I had my backpack on my back and was awkwardly trying to carry that…) She also gave me a toll free number to call for a hotel…which was highly unhelpful seeing as I don’t have a phone.

I tried the payphone again, and I swear I haven’t forgotten how to use a telephone in my year in the bush…but it seriously wasn’t working. So trying to hold back the flood of tears that was threatening to explode, I asked a man working the check-in if he knew if the phone was working. I explained my situation and he told me there was a place near the arrivals that had phones for different hotels. And then he offered to carry my bag and take me there. asante.

Then, just in case you expected this was finally my breakthrough, it wasn’t. The stand was removed because of the construction.

AWESOME!

But behind a giant sign, there was a magical red phone. You push the little red button and the man on the other end finds you a hotel! I'm not even joking...it was so great. Literally magical. He was very pleasant and booked me a room near LaGaurdia. Then I hopped into my first NYC yellow taxicab and set off. Other than the shear shock of the expense of the taxi ride and hotel room, I thankfully had a plan. I got to the hotel, got my room, sat down on my bed and literally jumped for joy…

Such comforts like this have not been in my life for a while! Literally the most comfortable bed I think I’ve ever had the pleasure of sleeping in. And the water was SO HOT! I took the world’s longest shower, enjoying every splash of fresh, clean, hot water that hit my face. Then solving the problem of dinner, the hotel had snacks and soups and sodas and things, so I bought myself a cup of campbell’s soup, used the microwave in my room, and treated myself to Goldfish! Maybe not the most grandiose of first meals back in the states, but it was just what I needed. And I could avoid venturing out into the city again, which was certainly positive. I spent the evening enjoying the SUPER FAST wi-fi, catching up with friends, and fell asleep by 8pm before I even had the chance to start a movie.

And then when I woke up well rested and looked at the clock…it was 4am. What’s up jetlag. So I watched a movie, repacked my bags since they were a disaster, and took another shower! I put on my almost clean pants, new sandals that I bought in Kenya, a brand new clean tshirt that Marisa gifted me before I left, looked in the mirror, and almost felt like I fit in here. Almost…

Breakfast at the hotel had way too many options for me to decide, but I will say that the banana was not a good option. Seriously no comparison to TZ bananas and I couldn’t even eat it. The other fruit was good, as was the yogurt and wholegrain bread. I’ve missed having such things in my life! Mmm.

The hotel had a shuttle to the airport, which was very convenient, and while I got here early to see if I could get on an earlier flight (which I couldn’t), it gives me time to sit in a nice chair, reflect on my transition to American life, and write this blog. I suppose I can handle this short 4-hour wait with all the comforts of home.

Not gonna lie, I’m VERY much so looking forward to landing in Chicago!