We\u2019re homeward bound today.\u00a0 But first, I have to teach my classes.\u00a0 I\u2019ve found 7 different versions of \u201cCarol of the Bells\u201d on YouTube, so we\u2019re going to watch and discuss the different arrangements, as well as talk about some more Christmas traditions.<\/p>\n
I get home at 1:30, and Judy almost has everything else completed.\u00a0 We finish up, close up the apartment, and move all our stuff down to the taxis.\u00a0 Our stuff won\u2019t fit into one taxi, so we split into two taxis and take off.\u00a0 We arrive at the airport, load our stuff onto two big luggage carts and move to check-in.\u00a0 The line is pretty long, but moves quickly.\u00a0 Because I\u2019m cheap and trying to save money on our luggage, I\u2019ve decided to carry the box (it weighs 31 lbs. and doesn\u2019t have wheels, I\u2019m an idiot), and my briefcase as my carry-on and personal item.\u00a0 Judy has her purse and a large bag for extra stuff.\u00a0 We check four large suitcases.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After checking in, we start the long walk to the gate.\u00a0 The International terminal is new since our flight to Korea in September.\u00a0 It\u2019s easy to figure out where to go, but a really long walk to get there.\u00a0 After a long hike, a train ride, and another long hike, we arrive at the security area.\u00a0 They are really thorough, as usual.\u00a0 We are pulling all kinds of cords and stuff out of our bags for examination.\u00a0 There is another serious hike to the gate.\u00a0 We\u2019re able to sit for a few minutes, but they were already loading the plane when we arrived, so it doesn\u2019t last long.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure if this is normal, but there is another security check after we start down the loading ramp.\u00a0 Each of our bags were emptied and a guard carefully looked at everything.<\/span><\/p>\n We finally get to board the plane and find our seats.\u00a0 The flight from Beijing to Chicago is 13 hours.\u00a0\u00a0 We get a full meal early in the flight.\u00a0 3 hours later, they came through the cabin with a sandwich snack. \u00a0Two hours before we land, they serve us breakfast.\u00a0 Each seat has it\u2019s own screen and access to lots of recent movies.\u00a0 We\u2019ve been out of touch on movies since July, so we catch up on our movie-watching.\u00a0 Neither of us gets too much sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019re on time when we arrive in Chicago.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been worried about this leg of the flight because of the chance for weather issues in the windy city.\u00a0 We first have to go through customs.\u00a0 The lines are really long, but we enrolled in \u201cGlobal Entry\u201d, and the work finally pays off.\u00a0 There is a really short line for us, and several self-serve kiosks.\u00a0 We are thru the area and out to baggage claim in 5 minutes.\u00a0 Now we have to get our bags, and re-check them.\u00a0 They are slow to come out, but eventually arrive.\u00a0 When we arrive at the check-in desk, there is luggage scattered everywhere.\u00a0 Someone official scans our bags and tells us to leave them where they are.\u00a0 There must be over two hundred bags stacked up and jumbled around.\u00a0 We\u2019re nervous to leave them, but there doesn\u2019t seem to be much of an option, and our layover is long.<\/span><\/p>\n Our next gate is in a different terminal, so it\u2019s out to a train and over to our new terminal.\u00a0 More time is spent working our way through a really long security line.\u00a0 We were expecting crowds since it was Friday night on the weekend before Christmas.\u00a0 We weren\u2019t disappointed.\u00a0 News crews were everywhere discussing the congestion and delays.\u00a0 When we finally arrive at the gate, we have two hours to sit.\u00a0 The length of the trip is beginning to wear on both of us, but sleep isn\u2019t coming easily.<\/span><\/p>\n The flight out of Chicago departs 45 minutes late.\u00a0 We deplane at DFW at midnight.\u00a0 Our luggage finally shows up around 11:40.\u00a0 Courtney is waiting for us.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been worried our stuff wouldn\u2019t fit into the Honda, but it does, and there is even room for us to ride along.\u00a0 We arrive at \u201cThe Magnolia Hotel\u201d in downtown Dallas.\u00a0 Courtney\u2019s apartment complex has a special arrangement with the hotel for visitors.\u00a0 We end up with a large comfortable room on the 21st floor with a wonderful view of downtown Dallas.\u00a0 It\u2019s $75 a night, with a big buffet breakfast included.\u00a0 There are also cookies and milk from 8-10 each evening.\u00a0 We arrive at our room at 1:30 am Saturday morning.\u00a0 It\u2019s been 25 hours since we walked out of our Beijing apartment.\u00a0 We\u2019re tired but excited for the opportunity to be home for two weeks.\u00a0\u00a0 We finally finish unpacking and settling in at 4:30 am.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m going out of the blog writing business until Thursday, Jan. 2, when we fly back to Beijing.\u00a0 I hope everyone has a great Christmas season.\u00a0 I know we\u2019re going to.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We\u2019re homeward bound today.\u00a0 But first, I have to teach my classes.\u00a0 I\u2019ve found 7 different versions of \u201cCarol of the Bells\u201d on YouTube, so we\u2019re going to watch and discuss the different arrangements, as well as talk about some … Continue reading