Left Bountiful, UT at 7:15 am MDT on Sunday, March 21, 2010
My last week in America was a complete blur. I finished up work on Monday and had booked myself out Tuesday through Saturday with friends and family for final good-byes before I left—which literally spanned from breakfast dates to post-dessert get-togethers…I was very full by Saturday. :-) Unfortunately, all of my escapades, combined with a mystery illness I’ve been unable to kick since the end of October, led me to complete exhaustion and very poor health by Friday night. I ended up in InstaCare that evening, missing a get-together with dear friends from Westminster College.
All of my doctors so far have suggested that I may have a sinus infection and have written me similar prescriptions of antibiotics and nasal sprays. Three doctors, two specialists, seven prescriptions, countless dollars, dozens of tests, and over five months later, I had seen little-to-no progress in my health and was definitely losing faith in the medical industry. However, I was in enough pain by Friday that I decided to give them ONE last shot. This time, the InstaCare doctor suggested that my condition may be allergy-related, due to something in my environment irritating my sinuses and potentially causing my incredible earaches, headaches, sinus pressure, dizziness, and nausea. I stopped by Walgreens for the generic version of my prescription that still cost a cool $270 dollars (I decided to only fill half the prescription).
By Saturday morning, I was beginning to feel human again and got started packing my luggage and saying a few final good-byes with friends and family. Did you know that for an international flight to Japan you are allowed two suitcases and a carry-on? TWO suitcases and a carry-on…seriously? Each bag has to be under 50 pounds? Who came up with this stuff? I mean, it isn’t like I was trying to pack what I needed for A YEAR or anything…
I spent the entire day and night packing, sorting, re-packing, and re-sorting as I quickly learned how difficult it is to fit my life into a few very cute, zebra-striped bags. Pack less shoes…roll everything—you fit more than by folding it…wear your heaviest coat onto the plane so you don’t have to pack it…you mean I can’t fit these shoes either?...don’t forget shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste—No, not in the carry-on, they’ll toss it. How much more is it to check in a third bag? One-hundred and fifty dollars? So, you’re telling me I can’t take these shoes either? Awesome.
I finally zipped up my bags and set them in the hallway around 6:00 Sunday morning…I told my brother, Ryan to be at my house by 7:00 so we could get to the airport. At this point, I was completely exhausted…and the fact that I hadn’t gone to bed since Friday wasn’t really an issue…I was emotionally drained. Too many good-byes with too many loved-ones and now it was all starting to hit me. As I started hauling off my last bag and put my laptop into my backpack, I looked over at Bradford, who had drifted off to sleep after staying up with me all night as I packed and visited with friends. You know that feeling when your mom used to wake you up for school and you begged for just five more minutes in your warm, safe bed before you had to throw off your sheets and jump into the cold morning air? Do you remember how precious those five minutes seemed to you, even if you knew that realistically it wouldn’t matter because you HAD to get up anyway?
That’s how I felt when I saw him sleeping there… and I curled up next to him for my just-five-more-minutes… Still, I knew had wipe my eyes and get out of bed…I had to get ready to go and get out the door. Then, I started thinking about my best friend's wedding that I am going to miss, the birth of my dear friend’s baby that may happen any day now. I thought of my baby brother returning home from his mission in a month and a half and the fact that it would be another year before I could hug him…at this moment I saw my mom walking down the stairs and I almost collapsed into her arms, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop crying if I let myself start again now.
Ryan pulled up and he and Brad hauled my bags into the car as my mom frantically and sweetly grabbed last minute medicine for me to take “every few hours” to help with the sinus pressure and pain on the plane ride. It was just minutes before I was on my way out of America and she was still making sure I was taken care of…amazing. After too-quick goodbyes to my parents, I went running into the car, ready to go… wait! I forgot my flat iron! Back in the house and then back into the car in under 15 seconds and we were on our way…
I breezed through check-in with one bag weighing about 42 pounds and the other squeezing in at 49…yup…49 (with shoes!). I was so sidetracked as we approached security that I didn’t even realize the significance of where we were until Ryan said, “Well I guess this is it.” I looked at him and even though I knew this is where we had to say good-bye, I asked, “Is this where we have to say good-bye?” I couldn’t hold it in any longer and I began to cry…I hugged my big brother and then turned to Brad. Wow. What an emotional send-off. I started walking through the line with my carry-on and kept looking back at Brad and Ryan, searching for their faces as I walked deeper into the chaotic abyss of airport security. The lady behind the counter asked if I was ok and probably thought it was weird that a person could be so sad to be going on vacation…I choked out a “Yeah-I’m-fine” and screamed at myself to get it together.
Finally, composure. I walked to my gate and sat waiting…I was almost an hour early…which is far too much time for a person to be left alone to his or her thoughts before leaving the country for a year. I had a few more crying spells but pretty much held it together there and throughout the flight to LAX. I had a two-hour layover in LAX, which was very helpful considering how many times I got lost and how long it took to go through the security clearances there as well. I made it to my terminal a few minutes before boarding began and made my last few tearful goodbyes over the phone…I knew these would be the last phone calls I would be able to make from my cell for the next year and I was feeling pretty scared. I was edified by words of encouragement and support, but still completely overwhelmed and alone.
My last week in America was a complete blur. I finished up work on Monday and had booked myself out Tuesday through Saturday with friends and family for final good-byes before I left—which literally spanned from breakfast dates to post-dessert get-togethers…I was very full by Saturday. :-) Unfortunately, all of my escapades, combined with a mystery illness I’ve been unable to kick since the end of October, led me to complete exhaustion and very poor health by Friday night. I ended up in InstaCare that evening, missing a get-together with dear friends from Westminster College.
All of my doctors so far have suggested that I may have a sinus infection and have written me similar prescriptions of antibiotics and nasal sprays. Three doctors, two specialists, seven prescriptions, countless dollars, dozens of tests, and over five months later, I had seen little-to-no progress in my health and was definitely losing faith in the medical industry. However, I was in enough pain by Friday that I decided to give them ONE last shot. This time, the InstaCare doctor suggested that my condition may be allergy-related, due to something in my environment irritating my sinuses and potentially causing my incredible earaches, headaches, sinus pressure, dizziness, and nausea. I stopped by Walgreens for the generic version of my prescription that still cost a cool $270 dollars (I decided to only fill half the prescription).
By Saturday morning, I was beginning to feel human again and got started packing my luggage and saying a few final good-byes with friends and family. Did you know that for an international flight to Japan you are allowed two suitcases and a carry-on? TWO suitcases and a carry-on…seriously? Each bag has to be under 50 pounds? Who came up with this stuff? I mean, it isn’t like I was trying to pack what I needed for A YEAR or anything…
I spent the entire day and night packing, sorting, re-packing, and re-sorting as I quickly learned how difficult it is to fit my life into a few very cute, zebra-striped bags. Pack less shoes…roll everything—you fit more than by folding it…wear your heaviest coat onto the plane so you don’t have to pack it…you mean I can’t fit these shoes either?...don’t forget shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste—No, not in the carry-on, they’ll toss it. How much more is it to check in a third bag? One-hundred and fifty dollars? So, you’re telling me I can’t take these shoes either? Awesome.
I finally zipped up my bags and set them in the hallway around 6:00 Sunday morning…I told my brother, Ryan to be at my house by 7:00 so we could get to the airport. At this point, I was completely exhausted…and the fact that I hadn’t gone to bed since Friday wasn’t really an issue…I was emotionally drained. Too many good-byes with too many loved-ones and now it was all starting to hit me. As I started hauling off my last bag and put my laptop into my backpack, I looked over at Bradford, who had drifted off to sleep after staying up with me all night as I packed and visited with friends. You know that feeling when your mom used to wake you up for school and you begged for just five more minutes in your warm, safe bed before you had to throw off your sheets and jump into the cold morning air? Do you remember how precious those five minutes seemed to you, even if you knew that realistically it wouldn’t matter because you HAD to get up anyway?
That’s how I felt when I saw him sleeping there… and I curled up next to him for my just-five-more-minutes… Still, I knew had wipe my eyes and get out of bed…I had to get ready to go and get out the door. Then, I started thinking about my best friend's wedding that I am going to miss, the birth of my dear friend’s baby that may happen any day now. I thought of my baby brother returning home from his mission in a month and a half and the fact that it would be another year before I could hug him…at this moment I saw my mom walking down the stairs and I almost collapsed into her arms, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop crying if I let myself start again now.
Ryan pulled up and he and Brad hauled my bags into the car as my mom frantically and sweetly grabbed last minute medicine for me to take “every few hours” to help with the sinus pressure and pain on the plane ride. It was just minutes before I was on my way out of America and she was still making sure I was taken care of…amazing. After too-quick goodbyes to my parents, I went running into the car, ready to go… wait! I forgot my flat iron! Back in the house and then back into the car in under 15 seconds and we were on our way…
I breezed through check-in with one bag weighing about 42 pounds and the other squeezing in at 49…yup…49 (with shoes!). I was so sidetracked as we approached security that I didn’t even realize the significance of where we were until Ryan said, “Well I guess this is it.” I looked at him and even though I knew this is where we had to say good-bye, I asked, “Is this where we have to say good-bye?” I couldn’t hold it in any longer and I began to cry…I hugged my big brother and then turned to Brad. Wow. What an emotional send-off. I started walking through the line with my carry-on and kept looking back at Brad and Ryan, searching for their faces as I walked deeper into the chaotic abyss of airport security. The lady behind the counter asked if I was ok and probably thought it was weird that a person could be so sad to be going on vacation…I choked out a “Yeah-I’m-fine” and screamed at myself to get it together.
Finally, composure. I walked to my gate and sat waiting…I was almost an hour early…which is far too much time for a person to be left alone to his or her thoughts before leaving the country for a year. I had a few more crying spells but pretty much held it together there and throughout the flight to LAX. I had a two-hour layover in LAX, which was very helpful considering how many times I got lost and how long it took to go through the security clearances there as well. I made it to my terminal a few minutes before boarding began and made my last few tearful goodbyes over the phone…I knew these would be the last phone calls I would be able to make from my cell for the next year and I was feeling pretty scared. I was edified by words of encouragement and support, but still completely overwhelmed and alone.
I boarded my plane on Japan Airlines with red, swollen eyes, a heavy heart, and serious doubts about what I had gotten myself into… I avoided eye contact with anyone as I wandered down the narrow aisles and found my seat. A young Japanese man sat in the aisle seat and quickly stood to help me lift my carry-on into the overhead compartment. My heart was immediately softened by this stranger’s kindness and I sat in my seat, gazed out the window, and consciously reminded myself to inhale and exhale regularly.
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