Heading for Home

Leaving Washigton DC was another story to remember. The hotel where most of the TESOLers stayed did not provide any assistance with shuttle arrangement to the airport. And since the luggage was heavy and had been mostly doubled with oleh-oleh, they were all had by the taxi drivers. They did not use meters, so each was charged as the driver liked. There was one who was charged 50 dollars, and another with 100 dollars. But it was so early in the morning, and everyone was tired, and afraid that the driver would dumped them on the road, so they did not dare to argue.

I was happy to get an offer from Jati to take a super shuttle, meaning I was to be picked up at my hotel together with some other passengers, with only 20 dollars.

In the checked in counter, I just learned that everyone had got their seats arranged, except me. It was because we booked our tickets from different agents. I tried everything, and Northwest was being very helpful, but still, they could not get me a seat with the others. Well, we were on the way home, anyway. It was just such a long trip. But then, Jati contacted everyone, and managed to arrange that I switched seat with Hilal on the farthest point, from Detroit to Tokyo. I, then, managed to enjoy my flight, though having to sit next to Jati who kept on sleeping like a log along the travel