Home Sweet Home!

These contact details are no longer viable:

Zack
52 Patterson St.
Concord NSW 2137
Australia

Phone By Appt: 011+61+2+9764+6969

But I'm putting them here so I remember when I read this in the future.

Today I woke up, ate something, bummed around until noon, finished packing, checked out of my room, and Vivian was the only one around. I said a quick goodbye and we hugged. Then I was off! Donn took me to the Sydney airport and dropped me off.

So I'm sitting at the Sydney International airport, after paying $4 for a luggage trolley, accidentally going in the first class line for a few minutes before realizing (I didn't get to the counter even), and then having to repack my bags because the big red one was too full and the little blue one had spare room. That wasn't too bad. Then I got my boarding passes and went through customs. That was a big deal since I forgot to fill out the form beforehand. I didn't know and went straight up to the counter because there was no line. Then he told me I had to fill that thing out and come back. So I did, and then of course the line was a mile long. But it went fast. My passport checked through and I was on to the metal detector x-ray thing. I was worried about my bottle of lemonade since I didn't think you could have liquids. Turns out I was right and they made me pull it out. The guy asked if I wanted to drink any before I gave it to him. I said nah, but he convinced me after asking again. So I chugged a bit and handed it over. That was fine, people got confused about my other bags since they were sitting there for awhile, but it was all good in the end. Then I walked a little bit more before I got tested for explosives AGAIN. Oh well. Facial hair = definite terrorist.

I walked on to Gate 61 and got in line to get double checked again. Maybe quadruple checked. I guess I was too early. It was 1:45 approximately when I went, and he said to come back at 2:30. The flight boards at 3:30. I just walked back and am sitting at Gloria Jean's Coffee which is Australian only, I think. Just typing on my laptop and eating gummi bears. So glad I fit everything in. Well, except the crappy towels that I could throw away from home. The nerve-wracking part of the journey is over. Now I just gotta sit and wait another half hour before I go back to gate 61. Waiting and boarding and flying isnt' that big of deal. Especially once I get to America. Only one hiccup left I'm worried about--getting my bags in San Fransisco and checking them again to Minneapolis. And the stomache ache I always get around flying...

Cheers!

Update again:

So I went at 2:40 and turns out I have to go back at 3:30. I guess I misheard or the guy misspoke. Oh well. Now I'm off to the side sitting on the carpet and I think I'll finish History of Man - Part 1, the movie I started yesterday on the train. At least it's clowdy and wearing heavy layers (since it will be snowing at home) is not scorching!

Update againagain:

I boarded and everything. I had an aisle seat on the side, right next to the place where they set up the food. The light coming from there was annoying at times, but they used a curtain a little bit. No one sat next to me and that was awesome. I used my pillow for my back and the extra one for my head. And it got really cold up there so I even used the blanket. The movies playing were meh. First they started off with TV shows. How I Met Your Mother was the only one I watched. It's not a bad show. After that it was a trainwreck of horrible shows. I don't even remember which followed. After a few shows, they played Kit Kitridge: American Girl, or something like that. Abigail Breslin starred (Little Miss Sunshine). Dang, she is the queen of airplane movies. On the way to Sydney they played one with her and Ryan Reynolds about him finding out who her dad was. Then on the way to Sydney they also played Nim's Island which has her and Kate Foster. So 3 movies with her in it, all on the plane rides. I didn't watch this one. They showed Mama Mia! next, but I bet Caleb will make me watch it eventually, so I tried my best to avoid it now. After those, they showed even more horrible TV shows. The Suite Life of Zack & Cody? Those Disney kids are crap actors. Then some show I haven't heard of, Wizards of Waverly Way. A sitcom about wizards on Disney and I didn't see any "magic" other than the intro. I didn't watch either. Well, by not watching, I mean I looked every now and then, but never used audio. I read lips or something.

This one flight attendant was sorta annoying. She was doing her job, I know, but she told me to sit down for a couple of minutes when I was just getting up to jam a thing in my backpack and sit back down, and the seatbelt light was off. And one time she turned to the side and her big butt went over my armrest and into my personal space. Touching me. Ack.

This flight went better than the first by a long shot. I think I might've slept more in the first though. But here I actually went into a deep enough sleep to really know I was just sleeping, when I woke up. It was nice. And it was amazing NOT flying with all the World Youth Day kids that were sooooooo annoying the first time. Door open, door slam, door open, door slam. That door was never still during that flight. This time, nobody was annoying and standing up for super long periods of time or anything. It was like flying with...adults! I loved it. Now I feel old though. Oh well. I only got up about 2-3 times this time, about the same as before. No DVT or whatever it is with the swelling of the feet. Someone told me about that before I left. Whew. I didn't spill any drink on anybody this time also. There was this little asian man with Canadian residency in the window seat. I wonder how much English he knew. He wasn't a bother though, so that was good.

Finally arrived at San Fran and my iPod battery is still going strong. Maybe I'll push it with a movie during the next 2 flights. I found my bags easily enough, and rechecked them on to Minneapolis without hassle. What a relief. Then I got through customs without any trouble, unlike just about any other time at an airport I've had. It was nice! Then I found my gate and now I'm waiting there. I put my charge cord into an outlet to charge my laptop (not like I need it anyways) but nothing happened. I think I have to pay. Lame. So my body clock thinks it's 6:44am when it's 11:45am the previous day in San Fran, and 1:45pm the previous day at home. My flight boards in 10 minutes, so no real waiting around. I just sat for abuot 20 minutes after I sorted everything out and went to the bathroom. 42% charge left on my laptop. 2 bars of power on my cellphone. It should last...

I'm wearing my retainer now since it was awhile that I went without and when I woke up on the flight, I could literally feel the difference in the shifting of my teeth. It was weird.

I wonder if I get snacks on the 2 hour flights. I hate pretzels though, so I guess it doesn't matter. The big leg of the journey is done. Now two tiny ones that don't even compare. But they are still annoying. And my hair is already showing it's unwashedness. Oh well.I just saw a dog walk by. I can't wait to see Dok! 5 minutes til boarding, apparently. The luggage trolley here was free! I duno why I paid $4 in Sydney, but oh well. I guess I'll pack up now! Cheers!

I got to Denver just fine. The flight was awkward with a buff guy next to me. I slept a little on the flight even though it was 2 hours long.

I got to MSP just fine also. The flight was better since the person next to me was normal-sized. I think I slept through the takeoff. How tired was I! My family picked me up, we walked to the luggage thing, grabbed em, and away I was.

I became teary eyed at a few things. Once the plane touched down, for some reason tears welled up. I held them back though. The other time was right after when a flight attendant said, "You get an A!" to someone for doing something. It brought me back to America.

At home I started unpacking, maintaining my computer, looking for my TV warranty since apparently it is broken, eating lasagna, Olive Garden salad and breadsticks, and sharing my souvenirs with the family. Also playing with my dog. I didn't know how much I missed home. But now I have to deal with missing those friends from back there.

I'm gonna sleep in and call the dinner theater about a job and then maybe drive up to Bethel to see my friends. Fun!