Mom's Adventures in Korea

Yes, believe it or not, I traveled by myself for a two week visit with daughter and son-in-law to the Republic of Korea. It began with a flight over the North Central U.S., mid to west Canada, a touch of Alaska, and down to the land of the rising sun, Japan, with a flight from there to the lovely land of the Republic of Korea.  During the multi-hour flight from Minneapolis to Narita (Tokyo, Japan), I sat between two young adults--Kristen from Korea and Jill from Missouri.  We chatted quite a bit with many hours to learn about one another.  It turned out Jill was traveling to Busan to see her boyfriend David who graduated from Iowa State.  Well, being as how my family was named Iowa State VEISHA Family of the Year two years ago, I was immediately bonded with Jill and boyfriend David.

In Narita, we boarded our flight to Busan, Korea.  Jill was seated near the wing and I was seated near the back next to a Korean violin player named Angel.  Well, I am thrilled to be able to tell people I was sitting next to an Angel during a  mechanical emergency.  Midway in flight, Captain Bobby anounced that we were in a mechanical emergency and had been advised to return immediately to Narita.  He ended with the statement that he hoped we could return safely to the airport.  Thank you for the vote of confidence, Captain Bobby. (Who goes by the name of Captain Bobby anyway???)  Later  Jill said they could see and smell fuel spewing out into the atmosphere.  She also said the row ahead of her grabbed hands and began to pray.  I was okay because, remember, I was next to an Angel.  We landed on the airstrip lined with emergency vehicles and flashing lights.  Captain Bobby once again came on to say not to be alarmed by the emergency vehicles because they were there "just in case" they were needed.  Then he said, "Personally, I am relieved we made it safely back to the airport." Hooray, Captain Bobby, but please read a book about what to say and not to say to a plane filled with people in your care!

As we left the flight, Jill waited for me and we were bussed to a lovely hotel; each of us with our own room compliments of Delta.  During the bus ride, Jill kept trying to get reception with her iPhone but was unable to connect.  Meanwhile, I turned on my Verizon with a text message welcoming me to Japan.  As we entered the floor of our rooms, my phone rang with a call of concern from my daughter Kate in the Busan airport.  Then she said they had met a guy in the airport from Iowa State waiting for his girlfriend.  I said I was standing next to his girlfriend Jill, and she was fine.  That was the last phone call I received because later as I tried to call Kate when I was lost in Busan I was told my service had been temporarily disconnected.  Thank you, God, for the one phone call I needed.  The story of being lost in Busan is one I will post later.  Suffice it to say, a visit with my daughter Kate and son-in-law Chaz was a trip of a lifetime.  More to come....