My American Journey... (Part 1)

I was running towards the boarding gate barefooted. I held my shoes, a pair of flip-flops, a sweater, a jacket an over-sized envelope containing all my travel documents was clutched to my side, my passport was held to my chest by my jaw, I had my handbag hanging on my right elbow half open, a pair of jeans was already halfway to the ground, my backpack was strapped to my back opened as well. I was pulling and dragging a small suitcase behind me. My sisters and my mum was running alongside me on the other side of the barricade “I’ll miss you, call us when you get in the plane so we know you made it in” my sister said. “call when you arrive Los Angeles, we love you” My mom gasped. “don’t forget me” another said I could only nod too busy willing all my items to not drop. Praying that they let me board the plane. Behind me, I heard someone yell “Hey madam! Your shoe!” crap I thought. I turned around to the woman she was walking but kept up with me. I wondered how she could look that calm and still walk that fast. I collected the shoe curtsied a quick thank you and continued.

“Why don’t you take the time to put them all in, it will save you more time,” she said. I replied, “It’s complicated Ma”. The rest of the response continued in my head but I was quickly running out of breath, and continued running mumbling another thank you. “What airline are you flying with?” she asked. Double crap, I thought now she wants to chit-chat, I considered ignoring her, but Years of my mum beating good manners into me made me respond “Etihad ma’am” I made my voice seem more out of breath and quickened my pace. “you are late, keep running! Duh! I thought quickening my pace without responding.

I arrived at the boarding gate panting hard, happy to see the agents still milling around and the door still opened. “Good evening Ma” I gasped “I’m supposed to be on the Etihad 231 Lagos to Abu Dhabi. I gave her my passport and boarding pass but she held u a hand saying “stop there! My supervisor already warned me about you. Weren’t you supposed to dump half of all that along with the backpack this before getting here? You obviously aren’t ready to fly out tonight.” “please all of these are very important” I begged. She pointed to the bin “dump them or go home” “can I put them all in this back pack and leave them in your care? I can have my sister come for them” I asked curtsying again. She kicked the bin towards me “do I look like your messenger?” drop them or get out of my sight.”

I dropped the jeans and the shoes put on the flip-flops, wore the sweater then wore the jacket. I came back to her but she pointed to the bin again. I went pulled out my laptop from my backpack and dumped the backpack. “the gate is already closed so go back to the ticketing counter, pay the No Show and date change fee. You can only fly tomorrow.” As a proper Naija (Nigerian) girl I dropped to my knees and burst into tears “Please, I sold everything to buy this ticket, I can’t afford the extra fees”

“you should have thought of that before trying to cram all of Lagos into your purse you have 2 phones a tablet and a laptop who needs all those for a flight?”. “please I’m begging you, have mercy” I sobbed.

Just then I heard a voice behind me saying “young lady why are on you still here, aren’t you supposed to be on the Etihad flight, the gates are closing I told you to keep running. Pack your thing and go I’m calling the crew now to wait for you.” For a moment, I didn’t process what she said, I kept staring at her, still on my knees with my hands clasped in supplication; wondering who she was; what she was; and why the other agents were curtsying and acting busy no longer interested in my interaction with their colleague. She pulled a radio from her skirt band “ET 231 please hold the gate, you have a guest heading your way” “Rodger that, tell the guest to hurry. We are waiting” I jumped up shoving everything into my purse “Thank you so much, Ma’am, God bless you!” I said over and over. I took off my flip-flops again ready to take flight adrenaline pumping, a voice croaked over her radio the voice distorted, I waved to her one last time and took off “Hey! Young lady!” I stopped and turned around fearing the message on the radio was that the flight crew had called to say they couldn’t wait any more. She pointed to the bin “are these yours?” I nodded wondering why she asked. “take them. Now Run!” she turned around to leave I hugged her from behind. “Thank you, thank you thank you…” I grabbed all my items shoved them back into the abandoned backpack and started running again but not before I stuck my tongue out at the gate agent and showed her my middle finger.

When I got to the plane I was so out of breath I could barely breathe. The head flight attendant (a very cute guy I might add) met me at the door with a reassuring smile. "You made it!" He said handing me a bottle of water I took a sip trying to calm my nerves. Then in a bid to adjust my backpack I did a big shrug and doused the cute flight attendant with over half the water!!! His expression was OMG! the entire front of his jacket was wet. All this in front of the plane. Kill me now I thought, America is not by force let just go home now. I meekly walked to my seat and slunk as low as I could trying to hide.

After this eventful first half you would think that the rest of the journey would be smooth right? Naa my life is never that easy I got to Abu Dhabi and USA Immigration said I came too early! A day too early, the mistake was from the school they had different dates on my documents. After another interview that felt like a visa interview and the fear of getting sent back and lots of pleas and explanations I was the last to board the plane to LAX again!

I got to LAX and waited and waited and waited for my bags to come out, they didn't! Turns out my bags were forgotten in Abu Dhabi!!! During the exchange between me and the Etihad agent, filling out missing baggage forms and what not my passport miraculously disappeared. (I still think Mona the Etihad agent stole my passport!) I had gotten to the exit of the airport when I realized that she had given me a green envelope instead of a green passport! I quickly went back but she insisted she gave me the passport a classic case of "she said she said".

Missing passport missing bag strange city, strange country, no means of Identification.

Stick with me the journey continues...