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January 24, 2005
Made it to Rochester!
Hi! We're back in the States!! :-)
We arrived yesterday evening into JFK at 5:00pm! Our plane was late taking off from Istanbul, and then we had to circle NYC for an hour and a half before we could land. I guess there was alot of snow while we were gone!
The flights wern't that bad...It was just so hard to say goodbye to Seymen's parents. They came in and met us at the airport in Istanbul. We sat and had tea with them and talked until it was time to go. Unfortunately, in Istanbul, they don't like to update the flight status very often. So when we went through security and passport control it said our plane was ontime...but when we got to the other side, it said that our plane was delayed 45 mins. We could still see his parents waving at us, but there was nothing we could do since we already when through passport control. It was just soooo sad. I was totally trying really hard to not cry outright. Everytime I thought about his parents saying goodbye to Seymen, or even looked at him, I just started to tear up. He looked so sad and depressed that he had to say goodbye. It's the worst ever to say goodbye I think. Anyway, we decided either way, it'll be hard for one of us. Either him in the US away from his family, or me in Turkey away from mine. But I told him, I'd be 100% willing to move to Turkey if he wants too ;-) I even found a cute little flat online, right on the Bosphorous in Istanbul for $550,000 US dollars. Unfortunately, Seymen explained that they don't have mortgages (can't spell that) in Turkey, so basically you just buy everything out-right. (Which stinks because I certainly can't afford to by any type of property other than maybe a 10-speed bicycle)
So...getting off track. When we landed in NYC, I turned on my cell phone and listed to messages while we were taxi-ing. Seymen waited and turned his on while we were waiting to get out of the plane. He got yelled at, because we can't use our cell phones unitl after customs. But then...Seymen's dad calls MY cell phone...so I'm talking to him but then I get yelled at...so I basically had to hang up on his dad. But he's so cute. He stayed up all night tracking our flights home. And he told me that when I flew into Turkey, he was tracking my flight the whole way :-) I love him! How nice is he! :-)
Anyway, at JFK they have this new handy dandy train, called the air-train...Basically, it's a monorail that takes you to each terminal. Much easier that trying to go outside and fight taxi lines and passenger pickup for breathing room. So anyway...yeah, that was broken last night. So we went out the catch the buses that drive around. Unfortunately, every bus that passed, none were going to terminal 9 (which is american airlines). So we go outside, freezing our BUTTS off, try to find the bus...Get sent all over the place. Can't find a bus to take us. Go back in warm up...Try to talk to Turkish Airlines to help us...No luck there. Back outside to find the buses again. Actually stepped off the curb this time, to a bus, but nope...he didn't go to terminal 9. OK...back inside. Back outside. Seymen offering taxi drivers tons of money just to drive us to terminal 9. Nope. They would do it. Back inside. This time Turkish airlines downstairs is closed. Drag the bags back upstairs. Seymen speaks turkish to the flight people--for about 30-40 minutes. Still no luck. Back outside. FINALLY! A BUS! And they go to terminal 9! OK so we're on the bus now. An hour later we arrive at terminal 9! Go Figure! ;-)
The funny part is, it was basically useless for us to go to Ame. Airlines. While I was standing in line to talk to an agent, I was waiting on the phone too. I ended up getting through there faster than the line, and was able to beg and plead for a flight from Rochester to Austin (Today) instead of having to find myself a hotel in NYC all alone! But the lady took pity on me...I think because I told her that I missed the original flight because i was late on an international flight from ISTANBUL -- Hi! Long WAY!!! LONG PLANE RIDE!! But once she realized why, she was so nice and stuff. Anyway, basically the phone conversation ended with my telling her I loved her and her supervisor. Meanwhile, Seymen was on the phone with Jet Blue buying a ticket for me on the JFK to ROC flight that was leaving at 1AM. That all squared away, we headed back outside for another bus expierence. We were actually in luck though. There was one bus waiting outside...SO me with my rollysuitcase, bag of gifts from Turkey, Seymen's suit back, my bookbag, and purse, running through inces of snow trying to the catch the bus. Yes. That was a pretty site ;-) But we made it!!! And then it only took us 1 hour to get from terminal 9 to terminal 6!
Once there, it was just a wait-fest. There were people everywhere. JetBlue (which I think is pretty awesome because most airlines are just like too bad buddy your SOL) had a cute little cafe set up where they were giving away free soda, juice, coffee, tea, blankets, cots, blue chips, biscotti etc. It was pretty nice I thought. ANyway...we waited there from 11pm until 2:45 when our plan finally took off. WE arrived in Rochester at 3:45 and made it home by 5:30AM because we had to wait an hour and a half for a cab. Seymen called his dad when we got to Rochester, and it was 11AM in turkey. Go figure.
Anyway. I'm sure you wanted to know the entire saga...but I needed to kill time. Seymen doesn't want me to show up at work too early but I'm bored stiff and not really wanting to be all alone since I'll be doing that in Austin for a day or two until Jennifer and Li-Wei get home. (OK that sounds sad I know...but I really miss them!) Anyway...I'm going to get moving. Put my bags in the car, and all the presents. The best part about being home today is that I can see my family! and give them their presents. Mom and Chris are meeting me at the airport after they both get out of work...so I'll definitly see them.
Awwww...I want to go back to Turkey...not Austin!!! (by the way did I mention that it was the best trip of my life? I didn't? Oh well it was :-)))
Posted by beth at January 24, 2005 01:33 PM