The last stop before the US...Shanghai. It's the main international gateway for most incoming and outgoing flights in China. I had to fly from Wenzhou to Shanghai, had a 23 hour layover and then a flight straight to Detroit.
I arrived in Shanghai on Sunday afternoon and ventured into the city for a relaxing dinner and some final people watching.
Monday morning, I did a little extra souvenir shopping for my peeps back home, but not too much as I'd purchased some during the Dragon Boat Holiday. After getting coffee, walking around and some shopping, it was back to the hotel to shower and go to the airport. My flight was at 4:30 and I was flying China Eastern Air, according to my itinerary through Orbitz I was to go to Terminal 1 and check-in. However, upon arriving at the check-in counter I was told this fight was through Delta and I had to go to Terminal 2...Oye Vey.
I get to Terminal 2, and instead of trying to search myself I decided to ask the Information Desk where I should check in for the Delta flight to Detroit...she nonchalantly said to me, "Ohh, that flight doesn't exist...it's been cancelled." I said shockingly, "I'm sorry what?!" She repeated it again...I said, "I know what you said, I just don't want to believe it!" She directed me to the counter where after about 40 minutes I proceeded to talk to 5 different people, me attempting to infusing Chinese and English is harder than you can imagine! Eventually I gathered that if I could find another airline that had a flight to Detroit, Delta would cover the costs. After a semi-tearful call to my sister, (sorry Char I know 3am phone calls aren't exactly the greatest!) I found a possible flight to Windsor...I could just get a car and drive across. However, they couldn't understand why I wanted to go to Canada, they said, 'I thought you wanted to go to the US?!' I attempted to explain that it's right next to it...instead the counter manager (who spoke English quite well) found something even better, it was a 4:00 flight to Chicago then a transfer to Detroit...I said okay and the craziness continued. As the flight was at 4:00pm and it was now 3:45pm. So I literally had 15 minutes to check my bags, get a ticket, go though security and checkpoints and get to the gate. Sounds impossible, yes?! We ran over to American Airlines, they took my passport and luggage, did some magic then I had to get though the two security checkpoints...luckily the counter manager, ran with me through everything VIP and then ran to the gate. I was literally last one through the doors! As I was running through the terminal and through VIP checkpoints etc...I was thinking, "This is the stuff that happens in movies!". The entire time, I never even looked at my seat number...I got onto the plane and the attendant greeted me, took my ticket and said, "Ahh, welcome Ms. Calvert, please go to the left you're seat 1G and look at the menus to decide what you'd like after take off" My internal thoughts, "Holy cow, first-class bitches!!!" I sit down, at this point dripping with sweat...did I mention that Shanghai was incredibly hot this day, the felt like temperature was 108! The flight attendant came to greet me and introduced himself to me as Kevin, said, 'Hello, looks like you've had a good day. Can I get you anything before take off.' Internal thoughts, 'A shower, a towel and some really cold water', instead I just said, 'A glass of water please'. I got to relax with a seat that not only reclined but also turned into a bed if I wanted. I got to relax with a few glasses of wine and a couple of movies. The flight was a bit bumpy, so even with a bed I was only able to sleep about 4.5 hours. But the best part was having first-class all the way!
I arrived in Chicago and only had about 45 minutes to get through Customs, grab my luggage, to go through Exit & Entry Inspection, recheck my luggage and run to the other terminal via shuttle. Luckily, when I got off the flight the crew was stating that people who had short turn over to their next flights were getting bright neon orange tags. With that orange tag I was able to bi-pass most people and get through rather quickly...VIP check point for customs and baggage claim. After I ran through all of that, I run to the correct terminal via the shuttle...only to have my flight delayed again! This seriously was a scene from a movie...all the running around through VIP checkpoints was like being in some kinda spy movie, where everything is already set up and you just have to run through it all...so crazy! After having the gate changed 3 times (not kidding!), I finally boarded the flight to Detroit. It was just a short 45-50 minute flight aboard a puddle jumper plane. After landing, went to the baggage claim to pick up the luggage...looking around and didn't see any family around. Internal thoughts, 'Uhhohh, did they get confused at the times, since I called them 3 times and only told part of the story I'm sure I confused them...sometimes, easily done...' I turn around and I hear...'Patty!!!' There's mom, big grin on her face...and a big ole hug! :) Then comes sister and pops...it's nice to be around familiar faces who give great hugs. <3
Around the world and back again, glad I did it and saw all the things I'll never forget but also very pleased and happy to be back!
Here are more unseen photos from my journey abroad!
Thanks again for all of your support and love!
~Patricia~
I arrived in Shanghai on Sunday afternoon and ventured into the city for a relaxing dinner and some final people watching.
Monday morning, I did a little extra souvenir shopping for my peeps back home, but not too much as I'd purchased some during the Dragon Boat Holiday. After getting coffee, walking around and some shopping, it was back to the hotel to shower and go to the airport. My flight was at 4:30 and I was flying China Eastern Air, according to my itinerary through Orbitz I was to go to Terminal 1 and check-in. However, upon arriving at the check-in counter I was told this fight was through Delta and I had to go to Terminal 2...Oye Vey.
I get to Terminal 2, and instead of trying to search myself I decided to ask the Information Desk where I should check in for the Delta flight to Detroit...she nonchalantly said to me, "Ohh, that flight doesn't exist...it's been cancelled." I said shockingly, "I'm sorry what?!" She repeated it again...I said, "I know what you said, I just don't want to believe it!" She directed me to the counter where after about 40 minutes I proceeded to talk to 5 different people, me attempting to infusing Chinese and English is harder than you can imagine! Eventually I gathered that if I could find another airline that had a flight to Detroit, Delta would cover the costs. After a semi-tearful call to my sister, (sorry Char I know 3am phone calls aren't exactly the greatest!) I found a possible flight to Windsor...I could just get a car and drive across. However, they couldn't understand why I wanted to go to Canada, they said, 'I thought you wanted to go to the US?!' I attempted to explain that it's right next to it...instead the counter manager (who spoke English quite well) found something even better, it was a 4:00 flight to Chicago then a transfer to Detroit...I said okay and the craziness continued. As the flight was at 4:00pm and it was now 3:45pm. So I literally had 15 minutes to check my bags, get a ticket, go though security and checkpoints and get to the gate. Sounds impossible, yes?! We ran over to American Airlines, they took my passport and luggage, did some magic then I had to get though the two security checkpoints...luckily the counter manager, ran with me through everything VIP and then ran to the gate. I was literally last one through the doors! As I was running through the terminal and through VIP checkpoints etc...I was thinking, "This is the stuff that happens in movies!". The entire time, I never even looked at my seat number...I got onto the plane and the attendant greeted me, took my ticket and said, "Ahh, welcome Ms. Calvert, please go to the left you're seat 1G and look at the menus to decide what you'd like after take off" My internal thoughts, "Holy cow, first-class bitches!!!" I sit down, at this point dripping with sweat...did I mention that Shanghai was incredibly hot this day, the felt like temperature was 108! The flight attendant came to greet me and introduced himself to me as Kevin, said, 'Hello, looks like you've had a good day. Can I get you anything before take off.' Internal thoughts, 'A shower, a towel and some really cold water', instead I just said, 'A glass of water please'. I got to relax with a seat that not only reclined but also turned into a bed if I wanted. I got to relax with a few glasses of wine and a couple of movies. The flight was a bit bumpy, so even with a bed I was only able to sleep about 4.5 hours. But the best part was having first-class all the way!
I arrived in Chicago and only had about 45 minutes to get through Customs, grab my luggage, to go through Exit & Entry Inspection, recheck my luggage and run to the other terminal via shuttle. Luckily, when I got off the flight the crew was stating that people who had short turn over to their next flights were getting bright neon orange tags. With that orange tag I was able to bi-pass most people and get through rather quickly...VIP check point for customs and baggage claim. After I ran through all of that, I run to the correct terminal via the shuttle...only to have my flight delayed again! This seriously was a scene from a movie...all the running around through VIP checkpoints was like being in some kinda spy movie, where everything is already set up and you just have to run through it all...so crazy! After having the gate changed 3 times (not kidding!), I finally boarded the flight to Detroit. It was just a short 45-50 minute flight aboard a puddle jumper plane. After landing, went to the baggage claim to pick up the luggage...looking around and didn't see any family around. Internal thoughts, 'Uhhohh, did they get confused at the times, since I called them 3 times and only told part of the story I'm sure I confused them...sometimes, easily done...' I turn around and I hear...'Patty!!!' There's mom, big grin on her face...and a big ole hug! :) Then comes sister and pops...it's nice to be around familiar faces who give great hugs. <3
Around the world and back again, glad I did it and saw all the things I'll never forget but also very pleased and happy to be back!
Here are more unseen photos from my journey abroad!
Thanks again for all of your support and love!
~Patricia~