So, I was in New York city for almost 5 months during the TaLK process, but my dear Mumzy (mother) wanted to see me before I go. So, I booked a flight to good old California for a few days before officially setting off to South Korea. My flight was this past Monday, on February 2nd. Unfortunately, on the 1st, there was a snow storm that crept up on me. I had to catch a taxi from the Bronx to LaGuardia ($50 buck that could have been spent elsewhere) and when I got there, tons of flights had already been cancelled due to the storm.
Fortunately my flight hadn't been cancelled, so I was good to go. I had a problem checking in, I had gotten a new, Korea-friendly, bank account and I was still using the temporary card because I used my mom's address in California as my address instead, but come to find out my card wasn't working, and I was flying United Airlines. They don't take cash payment to check your bags. I had to take money out of an ATM for a different bank (bye bye, those 3 bucks, I needed you) and the purchase a debit card (another 5 bucks) and then use it to pay for my checked luggage. Woe was my life.
After I finally got checked in and everything, I finally got through airport security (which is ridiculously complicated in the US, mind you) I proceeded to my gate to catch my flight.
However, my flight kept getting delayed. I got to LGA at about 11:30. My flight was supposed to be at 3:38, and I had a connecting flight in Denver to take me home, but it got to the point where there would be no way I was going to make my connecting flight tin Denver, so I went to the service desk and asked them to change my ticket. They did. My connecting flight in Denver was delayed to the next morning. The delays continued... and continued. When our plane finally landed and the previous passengers were off the plane, we waited for it to be serviced. At about 8:30, they told us... our flight was cancelled!
Are you kidding me? I was at the airport that long to tell me my flight was cancelled? I was, needless to say, a bit ticked off. I had to rush to the ticketing counter and re-book a flight (luckily it was free because they kept us all hanging for so long) the next morning at 8AM. Also, they took all of our baggage out, so I had to take go pick it up and re-check it in the morning. I know there was a storm, so I can't entirely blame United, but they kept us waiting for hours. They should have just cancelled the flight anyway, so that we could re-book earlier, and find a hotel to crash at for the night.
And I had no where to go that evening. I had to spend the night at LaGuardia Airport. It was NOT comfortable. The thing is, the chairs inside the security checkpoints are actually pretty comfy. However, before you reach the gates, the chairs are anything but inviting. I barely got any sleep that night. I kept tossing, turning, waking up and watching movies (Lord of the Rings) before finally getting up at 5AM and going to go check in. Thank heavens I didn't have to pay for my luggage again. I would have thrown a fit.
Anyway, things were smooth from there. LGA to Denver. Denver to California. I got home and my Mumzy picked me up and we spent less than 24 hours together before I went to my friend's house in the Bay, where I am now, and she will drop me off at SFO. Thank you, Judith. You're a saint.
Tomorrow morning I will begin my flight(s) to Busan, where my year in Korea will begin.
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