The joys of international travel

Just as I thought I was getting the hang of jetting around the globe, on my last visit to the US I got to enjoy a series of unfortunate events.  Thankfully, the food during the trip was extremely comforting!

Day 1: Flew in from Shanghai, had a great breakfast of a Korean rice bowl (served in a screaming hot stone bowl, which makes the rice crusty-good) and a side of dumplings.  Skipped eating on the 12 hour flight.

Day 1 continued:  Had a burger and an American beer for lunch at Chilis.  Waited in Detroit for 8 hours before they finally cancelled my direct flight to Asheville.  Stayed in Detroit, skipped dinner and went straight to bed.

Day 2:  Started the day at Chilis again with breakfast tacos.  Felt better immediately.  Decided I would be a jerk and flew standby to Atlanta and then Asheville, bumping everyone on the standby list and ultimately waiting in Asheville for my original flight to arrive with my luggage.  Changed into my business clothes in the baggage claim men’s room.  Drove to the meeting site and walked in at 2:05pm.  Presented to the group at 2:15pm.  Had a filet for dinner with more beer.

Day 3:  Sausage biscuit for breakfast.  BBQ sandwich for lunch.  Skipped dinner.  Highlight of the day was staying awake and involved in the meetings. 

Day 4:  Breakfast was “Smokehouse Hash” in the Asheville airport.  BBQ pork, potatoes, eggs, biscuit and apparently a little slice of heaven.  Travel to Williamsburg via Atlanta again.  Had a mint chocolate chip milkshake for lunch.  Meetings in the afternoon.  Mexican food for dinner, Margarita!

Day 5:  Skipped breakfast as I am now full after the first bite of food.  All day meetings, lunch from Panera.  Skipped dinner after running around buying things.

Day 6:  All day meetings.  Philly cheese steak for lunch. Drove to Va Beach and had Bubbas fried shrimp for dinner (with beer).

Day 7:  Skipped breakfast.  Shopped with my parents all day (mostly for Rebecca’s birthday present), had dinner with my extended family (Rebecca’s).  Lunch was Chic-fil-A and dinner was an excellent roast pork loin with mashed potatoes on the side.  Oh, and beer.

Day 8:  Sticky bun from Panera.  Went to my childhood church with my parents (I don’t remember the sanctuary being that small).  Brunch was french toast.  Skipped dinner.  Flew to Atlanta.

Day 9: Bagel for breakfast, not sure why as I was full already.  All day meetings.  Chicken fingers for lunch.  After running to a Trader Joes, Dunkin’ Donuts (for the ground coffee), two Targets and a Walmart, I had Taco Bell for dinner and loved it!

Day 10:  Lugged three suitcases to the airport baggage drop and got told I couldn’t drop my bags because I was flying to China and had to check in at the counter.  Annoyed, I dragged three suitcases and two carry on bags to the check-in counter.  Got told Delta had changed the luggage allowance on flights to China and had to pay $200 for additional luggage.  The jack-waggon supervisor on duty led in with the statement “well sir, I just checked on the Internet and the policy states…”  This did not improve my mood at all because, contrary to most people, I hate being told I’m an idiot.  Oh wait, I don’t think anyone likes it.  Maybe they should include that in their “so you want to be a supervisor” training.  On top of it all, I realized that now it would actually have been cheaper to buy most of the things I was bringing back in China, where it all costs double.  To top it off, both flights to return home were delayed.  The only redeeming factors were the burger with a side of fried cheese for breakfast and the empty flight to Shanghai where I had a whole four seat row to myself.   Oh, and I had another mint chocolate chip milkshake right before takeoff so I could skip the airplane food again.

So ends my tale of self pity for the week, thankfully I skipped enough meals that I didn’t gain anything!