The following entry was originally written on July 13, 2006

For the next eight weeks, I’ll be supervising and certifying customer service training for my company (UnitedHealthcare) in Manila, Philippines. Here is blog number one: The Departure.

I took my first airplane ride when I was 28… just before my 29th birthday, actually. Lisa and I were taking a summer trip to visit Lisa’s brother, Paul, and his family in Illinois. I had resigned from my teaching position the previous December in order to attend seminary at Liberty University, and I took a part-time job at Lynchburg City Greyhound to help pay the bills. (The Greyhound stuff comes into play later.)

Lisa had flown several times before on account of her job, so this trip was nothing new to her. I, on the other hand, regarded it with a bit of trepidation. I was taking everything in rather quietly (as is my way), and keeping my concerns and anxiety pretty well in check. (To be perfectly honest, I was as excited as I was nervous.) When our time came to board the plane, however, I was overcome by an unexpected emotion – disappointment. I remarked to Lisa, “It’s a Greyhound with wings.” I suppose I was expecting something with more grandeur (and more space). Up to that point, my only airplane experience was that of movies and television. This little commuter plane offered a meager comparison.

Since then, I have flown a few more times, and have even had the good fortune to fly in the “first class” sections once or twice. But today, I can say that I have REALLY flown! At this very moment I am a “World Business Class” traveler aboard Northwest Airlines, en route to Manila, Philippines. I flew from Greensboro to Detroit on a commuter plane, not unlike those of my past experiences. But as I arrived at the gate for my connection, I looked out the window onto the tarmac to see the Boeing 747 being prepped for my departure and thought to myself, “Now THAT’S an airplane!”

The seats are cushy and large, with buttons for adjusting a host of comfort zones: two lumbar settings that rotate for a lovely massage, foot rest, seat extension, full reclining for sleeping, etc. AND I can stand upright without bumping my head on the storage compartment! I’m in heaven! The attendants are fantastic, and I’m working on my third glass of champagne.

We have an interesting flight path… we’re flying north to Canada, then across Alaska, and will then fly over Russia before landing in Nagoya, Japan, for refueling. The captain says that we’ve got light winds, so we ought to arrive about an hour ahead of schedule. I hope that means that I’ll be able to step off the plane for a bit. I believe it will still be another 4 or 5 hours from Japan to my final destination.

*** At this point in my entry, my laptop battery died. ***

I did get the opportunity to stretch my legs in Nagoya, Japan… and nearly lost my carry-on luggage in the interim! Let me tell you… those cushy seats stop being so cushy somewhere between the 2nd and 13th hours. Even so, the flight wasn’t too bad. It was strange flying westward and into the sun, though. Even after the cabin lights were dimmed and the window shades shut, I was too excited to sleep. I would occasionally submit to the temptation to look out to see where we were and the sunlight would SCREAM through… resulting in quite a few startled, sleepy, and not-too-pleased facial expressions from the other passengers. Anyway, we finally arrived in Nagoya, and folks began to stir and gather their things once the breakfast meal was served.

Now, in the past, when I’ve had a stopover flight where some passengers depart, but others keep their assigned seats to continue on to another city, the passengers who are continuing on will often stay on the plane or just step off for a quick break and then return. So, when we arrived in Japan, I thought I’d go change my shirt, take a restroom break, and see what the airport looked like. I got to the end of the connecting ramp and spied a restroom, so I stepped in. After being taken aback by the porcelain-covered hole in the floor with a grab handle attached to the wall (which served as a toilet-plus-accessory), I began to think that Japan was no place for me! Shaken, but not yet undaunted, I changed my shirt, and began to follow the other passengers. I looked back, trying to find a sign or a “landmark” so I’d know where to reboard. Everything looked the same… So, not confident that I’d be successful, I marched myself against the departing traffic back to the airplane. I would just sacrifice the adventure and wait in my seat. Imagine my surprise when I found an army of cleaning staff tearing the place apart, replacing cushions, cleaning carpets, etc., and one of those gentlemen holding my bags and looking a bit confused. Fortunately, the flight attendant was still there and educated me about the “dog-and-pony” security check that the flights go through, and informed me that I’d have to go off the plane while it was serviced, and then re-board closer to our departure time.

With no real harm done, and with the assurance that if I just followed the signs I’d wind up in the right place, I took my newly educated self through the security check and waited for the boarding call. The rest of the flight was uneventful. A Philipino steel-drum band serenaded the arriving passengers! It was really cool, and I wanted to smile at them, but I was afraid they’d want a tip, so I kept my head down. (Yes… you can say it… whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably applicable here…)

Customs was surprisingly easy, and I found my driver without much ado. Everyone was extremely pleasant. The air was distinctly humid and full of exhaust fumes, but I was happy to finally be at my destination. The ride to the hotel was pretty short… maybe 20 minutes… and before long I was settling into a comfy queen-sized bed. All-in-all, it was a great experience, and I can’t wait to see what the next few weeks will hold.

More later.