TS funny story…
Tokyo-Narita's airport is really cute, we found the McDonald's which apparently has the best fries (yes, Aunt Cindy, I took a picture 😉 ). The shops have magazines with folded purses inside, origami kits, and green tea kitkats!
We were getting ready to board for 1830, and it was then that I realized that I didn't have my wallet – which held my passport, boarding ticket, and not to mention my yellow fever vaccination card, and everything else that's important. I re-traced my steps…no luck. So one of my squad leaders, Erin, and I took a brisk walk back to security. The Japanese people made the most beautiful impression on me. They are so well put together, kind, unassuming, beautiful, helpful, caring people. They exemplify how to represent their culture and country well. Our dilemma gathered about 10+ staff, and I'm sure it was the end of their shift. They re-ran our bags through the x-ray machines to double check that I wasn't finding my wallet inside, they made phone calls and pages, they did everything they could. Then, the manager arrived and it was then that she received instruction for us to go back to our gate. At this point it was 1825. Two stewardesses came to retrieve us. They told us to follow them quickly, and they took off running, in heals, in their skirts, onto moving sidewalks, off of moving sidewalks, all the while speaking fast Japanese between the two of them. Then there's Erin and I trying to keep pace with our carry-on luggage, floor length skirts, inadequate running shoes. We started to laugh at how we must look, we laughed even harder when we realize the irony – "so this is why they call it the "Race" huh?"! I see a flight attendant at our gate holding up my wallet, which I had left on a seat (!) and I run over to her, show her my documents inside, and with Erin and our other squad leader Grayson wilt me, we board the ~650 person capacity plane dead last, the captain greets us and says "you made it".
But I almost had a night in Tokyo.
Manila is 1 hour behind Tokyo time.
Manila is 14 hours ahead of Calgary time.
In the next couple hours we will see where we will live for the next month! But not really, cause it will be dark.
Welcome to the Race!
P.S. Our prayers were answered and final goodbyes went alright. I love you Mom and Dad.
