This is a transcript of the flight log I kept from Toronto to Tokyo, including my connection in Chicago. In its entirety, my trip took about 17 hours. I was sleep depraved by the end, and my handwriting became quite illegible. I did my best to transcribe what I had written, adding only to clarify a situation or feeling, and preserve the general mood of my trip.
After a tearful goodbye at Terminal 3, I left Angela, Matt and Mom. Alexis and dad couldn't make it, having school and work, respectively.
I sat by Gate B12 for half an hour, getting up only twice to use the washroom. The first washroom, closest to B12 had a terrible fecal odor I couldn't bare, so I walked across the terminal (around B20) to use the washroom there.
They started by boarding people in seats 20-35, and since I was designated 24F, I boarded. It's funny how people either don't listen, or think they'll get some sort of edge by boarding early. 20-35 are the seats at the back of the plane, and I passed several passengers in the 1-10 range.
I finally found my seat. Window seat with an empty seat between me and a dorky looking guy, He looked to be about my age, with short curly hair and reading Dean Koonz. I asked him to move so I could sit, and we didn't speak since.
The guy in the seat across the aisle from Curly and I just got harassed by the stewardess for putting his lowly coach-class luggage in a first class storage closet. Who does he think he is, I mean really?
The stewardesses brought out a snack and my choice of beverage. Curly was asleep, and I was tempted to take his Rold Gold Original Snack Mix until I tasted my own. Miscellaneous greasy cracker pieces and pretzels that all tasted the same. I asked for OJ, but got tomato instead. Whatever.
We have begun our descent. The stewardess, having spotted my empty glass and snack wrapper said: "I'll take what you don't want". I can only assume she wanted my garbage.
Well, the flight to Narita Airport has been delayed by 2.5 hours. Hopefully Mine-san will wait for me. I expect the next 3 hours to be boring.
Lunch is served here at ole gate K12. Turkey and Swiss on rye with Dijonnaise. We were given a grab bag of chips, cookies etc. The Lays chips I was given has a coupon on the back to cut out that read:
Cut out and save Ploids(tm)
Planet Lunch(tm) Ploids(tm)
The Official Currency of Fun!
All this unbridled fun, and me with my clean underwear packed away.
I think I'll write about my experience with US Customs at Pearson Airport. The first guy I had to deal with was a miserable blonde man in a booth. He asked me in a bored voice why I was going to Japan, etc. He looked so miserable so I asked him if it had been a long day. He said "No". Well, it was only 09h00!
The second guy I had to deal with was a Japanese US Customs officer, who interrogated me about my trip. He then quizzed me on some common Japanese phrases. I just wanted to leave.
We just took off from Chicago aboard a 777. Met two people waiting for my flight, a Chinese woman and a Sri Lankan man. We talked about our respective countries and cultures for a few hours.
This plane is sweet!. A TV is built into the back of the seat in front of me. Built into the armrest is a removable remote/game controller/credit card operated phone. Very high tech. I'm sitting next to a sleepy, wiry Japanese guy in his early twenties. He doesn't talk much. he even refused the hot moist towels they offered. Snacks will be brought out soon, and dinner looks good (according to the menu).
The pilot addressed us and explained the reason for the 3 hour delay. Apparently "the plane was broken" and we had to wait for a replacement.
I got some honey-roasted peanuts from the snack cart and a can of Sprite that is plastered with German. The can contains 0.33 litres!
Because of a violent bout of turbulence I am no longer asleep. We were just served a snack-in-a-box, a swiss and roast beef sandwich with Dijonnaise (what else?). I remember having that stuff on my flight to Europe in 1997.
Dinner was good, beef teriyaki, a cucumber roll, shrimp sushi, salad, rice and a very dry roll, followed by an equally dry white chocolate dessert. I think we get one more meal served. We're currently over Alaska. I didn't realize we'd be flying so far north. Shows what I know. The all jazz music station sucks. I'll try to sleep more. [trails off]
Oh yeah, I realized I left all my flight receipts in Caledon. Good one. I also need a receipt from TravelCuts from my last reschedule, so I have to get Ang to pick that up for me. Damn.
Dinner was good-ish. Beef sukiyaki and noodles. I should be landing within the half hour. Still not a word spoken by my companion, but I know he speaks English. I can just tell. I managed to sleep for about 3 hours and I'm not expecting to get to my hotel with Mine-san before 10pm (local time. It is now 6pm), so I know I'm going to sleep [illegible]. I'm so tired...