Goodbye....SIKE!

After nearly three stressful jam packed months of phone calls, e-mails, paperwork, a few tears, and most of all, stomach ulcer inducing anxiety, it was finally here: August 29, the morning I was to board a plane and head to Korea to begin my new life teaching English to middle school aged children. It has been by far the most difficult and draining experience of my life- it seems that every step of the way, some bigger force has been working against me to hold me back. But, despite it all, I got there.

To prepare for this day, over the course of the past two weeks (since I booked the ticket), I've been through a lot: I packed up my apartment and got rid of everything that wouldn't fit into my three (insanely heavy) suitcases, I said goodbye to my cats, I had a beautiful party given by my best friends. My sister even drove in from Chicago and surprised me to say one final goodbye (which, I must say, was the best true surprise I've ever received- I never even had an idea anything was up!).

Today, Sunday, August 28, was my farewell dinner with my family. Well, it was supposed to be at least.

It just so happens that hurricane Irene made her way up the East Coast this weekend, the first hurricane to make landfall this far up the East Coast in seven years. New York City is preparing for Armageddon the day I'm supposed wriggle my way through JFK.

So, my flight, flying from Buffalo to New York tomorrow morning at 11:30 AM, was of course cancelled. However, my flight OUT of New York, flying to Hong Kong, is NOT cancelled. If I could only get to New York before 2:55 PM tomorrow....

Now, I'm scrambling. I've just spoken with my "agent" of sorts, Alistair, who has been my guide throughout this crazy process, and he's informed me that if I do not arrive in Korea before the first of September, I might as well just wait until the 14th, because that's the only time the Officer of Education will be able to sign me in. So, it's either REALLY try and convince someone to let me on a flight tomorrow or Tuesday, or, wait two more weeks, which makes my stomach churn. I've already been delayed an extra month due to the annoyingly slow process that was obtaining a copy of my (non)arrest record from the FBI (well over two months).

So, I'm in panic mode right now. I've been on hold with the ticket agency for the past forty two minutes. I know I am certainly not the only person whose travel plans have been compromised this weekend, but knowing that does not make my situation any easier. I guess I just need to learn more patience.

I know I will get there. Whether it happens on Thursday or in two weeks, I'll get there.

More soon,

M.