23July2011 Our Trip I

A step-by-step of our voyage to the US:

1.  P took our luggage, nearly 600 pounds, to the airline a day ahead of our departure.  Nonetheless we arrived a couple hours ahead of departure time just to be safe.

2.  When we got to the airport the line for departures was out the door.  Nervous travelers, well wishers, crying family members, and luggage was everywhere.  P navigated us through the chaos and we went through our first checkpoint.  4 carry-ons, 6 backpacks and a stroller were x-rayed.  6 passengers were scanned and patted down (D and M went through the women's line and made through in seconds).  Something suspicious caught the attention of security in a couple of the boys' bags so further, hands-on inspection was required.  The culprits---a couple rechargeable batteries, a nerf blaster and a ram's horn.    We were waved through to another checkpoint.

3.  Checkpoint number 3 revealed that all of our carry-ons were too big.  Maybe we looked suspicious or something, all those white faces in a see of olive toned ones.   People rushed by us in scores with humongous bags, some the size of SUV's without a blink but ours were a huge problem.  After P "discussed" things with the man a while he walked off mad, looking for other infractions, leaving us to wonder what to do.  P took a couple carryons to the supervisor in charge, paid $75 and we kept on trucking.

4.  The immigration line was huge.  D and 3 little ones made it through without a problem.  P & Z got behind a tour group or something and waited 30 minutes to talk to an official.  Without a question their passports were stamped and we headed to the gate.

5.  Money exchanged.  US currency in hand.

6.  Checkpoint number 4.  Bags x-rayed again and another pat down.

7.  Checkpoint number 5, this time the gate was in sight...and we still had 20 minutes before departure.  Every carry-on was opened and searched.  No problem...until the official got to the boy's bags.  Apparently this was the first time the gentleman had ever seen toys.  When he got to the bag full of Legos he nearly lost it.  The supervisor in charge came to our rescue, told the man to get a grip and sent us all through.

8.  After having our passports and tickets checked one more time we boarded the plane, put all our stuff in overhead bins and buckled in.

9.  Touch screen monitors, videos on demand, 3 square meals, tons of snacks, repeated trips to the lavatories, a little sleep and there, and 13 hours later we landed.

10. US Customs was a breeze.  "Welcome home" and a big smile marked our reentry into America.