Welcome Baaack!

#Summer17 was everything a summer should be.  We did everything on our US wish list: we went on a cruise, visited the National Museum of African-American History, celebrated my mom’s birthday in Savannah, celebrated Rachel’s birthday at Great Wolf Lodge, attended camp (well this kids did), visited family and friends; and in between took care of doctor visits and back to school shopping.

Although we were loving the US, by August, it was time for us to go back to China.  It wasn’t so much that we were ready to leave (although my parents may have been ready for us to go), we were just ready to get back to our own lives, our own routines, and our own space.

So the kids and I started our journey, with 6 suitcases full of our favorite US things, and books, games and snacks for the long plane ride. We were ready!  This is us at the Richmond, VA airport before our journey…

The smiles evaporated quickly.  We didn’t know that we were in for one of our worst travel experiences yet…let me give you a taste.

Our itinerary went from Richmond to Detroit.  From Detroit, we’d take our long flight to Shanghai, China, about 15 hours.  Then, we’d transfer from Shanghai to Guangzhou.  A lot of legs, but we wanted to fly on a particular airline, and this was the way to do it, so we thought.

Things went downhill quickly, our first flight from Richmond to Detroit was delayed about 3 hours.  We hung around in Richmond, ate lunch, and hopped the flight once it was ready.  In Detroit, we dashed to make our connecting flight, and had only about 10 minutes to spare. We didn’t get to grab any last minute American favorites at the airport, but we made it. Whew, we were still smiling!

After an eternity on the plane, we arrived in Shanghai; our flight arrived a bit late, but the flight personnel assured us we could make the connection to Guangzhou.  Once off the flight, it took us about 45 minutes to pass through customs…not too bad, and still1 hour until our flight took off.  We collected our luggage, consulted with a Delta agent who informed us how to catch our connection.

What the agent didn’t tell us is that we had to go, with our 6 bags, into a different terminal to catch our connection.  She didn’t tell us is that we’d need to re-check all of our bags at the domestic terminal, twice.  She didn’t tell us is that in China, flights close 45 minutes prior to boarding.  She didn’t tell us is that no one would work to assure we made it to our flight.  6,000 Fit Bit steps later, we missed our connection.

After our missed connection, we were disappointed, but not defeated.

What we didn’t know was trying to get a hotel would be the biggest test of them all. The gate agents at our domestic airline partner would not give us a hotel voucher. The international gate agents had all gone home for the day. The hotel at the airport was booked. There were no hotel phones to make immediate reservations.  My local Chinese cell phone wasn’t working.

I was tired, frustrated, and scared.  I had two kids, six suitcases and few options.

Finally, I found a helpful gate agent, who spoke enough English to assist with hotel reservations.  We ended up at a local Chinese hotel, without any familiar food options, but we were safe, we had snacks from the airport and could sleep for the night.  We prayed, thanked God for safety and proceeded to catch our flight the next morning (which also ended up being delayed about 2 hours…).

As I think back to our adventurous return, it reminded me that I was back in China.  I was vulnerable. I had to remember that most service providers are not willing to bend the rules, at any time, for any reason.

At each point along the way, someone could have helped us by bending the rules. The Shanghai ground representative could have told us we shouldn’t try to make the flight. She could have helped us with a hotel at that time.  She could have offered a special escort.  The gate agent at the domestic airline could have called for an escort to the gate. She could have helped us with hotel reservations.

As I sit here, a few weeks removed from the trip, I still lament on how ‘customer service’ can be different in China.  But I also have to remember the people who did help us.  There was the representative who finally got us a hotel.  The doorman at the hotel who brought all 6 suitcases upstairs and never expected a tip.  The English-speaking folks on the bus to the airport who ensured we got off at the right terminal.

Yes, we had a terrible travel experience back to China; yes China’s version “customer service” can take a bit of getting used to…but we made it and we’re reminded that the helpers are still here!

This was Robby when he saw Rob at the airport…it was all worth it.