san francisco -> sydney -> melbourne

14 hour redeye flight to sydney, en route to melbourne. i thought the girls sitting next to me were high school students by their actions and demeanor:

-"like omigod, can you believe what she's wearing? (as they are reading their tabloid mags)"
-passing around different assortments of sweets, although it was kind of them to offer

-spasing and geeking out, as if they've never traveled before

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i wasn't in top form myself. i was stressed until i got to the airport. being the procrastinator in packing that i am, i started packing at 5pm and my flight was at 10:40pm. mind you, i can never narrow down my outfits, let alone shoes, and have to have an outfit for ANY and EVERY occasion and situation. john was about to beat the head off of me since he was the one stuffing my backpack -- i got scolded for bringing way too much. to top it all off, i had friends and family coming over to send me off at 8pm, and had to prepare dinner for them as well.

nonetheless, i was trying to suppress my irritation, so the girls sitting next to me wouldn't have to suffer and endure my wrath. when our dinner arrived i apologized to them for not introducing myself, and explained to them i was tired, cranky, and had been drinking before boarding the plane. they were sweet enough, and didn't even put anything to mind. i later found out they were sorority girls from u.c. berkeley -- which explained their mannerisms. we chatted here and there in between my snoozes, and movie watching.

the funniest was when i spilled my coffee and brandy on one of girls while shuffling around my books that were on the tray. i apologized profusely and told her, "hey at least they're lululemon pants you have on, just like i have on, and they wicker away the moisture and wetness i've spilled on the both of us."

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arrived in sydney: 6:20am

i was onto retrieving my sac when an older woman asked for help. carroll, was of british decent, but has become a native australian for over 40 years. she explained to me that she had brain surgery, and her arm was in a sling from her recent shoulder surgery, and couldn't distinguish her "ass from her elbow" (as the irish say). i helped her retrieve her checkin luggage since she had one functioning arm, and navigated her through customs. she explained to one of the men in customs that she had a load of prescription drugs in her luggage(very unnecessary as they didn't scan or check our bags), and in result they stopped us for 20 minutes to suss out the situation. she showed them her doctor's note, and we were able to go through with no hassle.

she thought she was on the same connecting flight as myself to sydney, 10:30 am. she asked me to accompany her outside as she puffed away on her cigarette. she attempted to call her husband, and couldn't remember the number for the life of her -- she said ever since her brain surgery she's never been the same -- and after 10 minutes of guessing she figured it out. turns out that her flight was at 7:40, as her husband was surprised that she was not at the gates waiting for her flight (it was close to 7am at that stage). we rushed into the domestic terminal connecting area, and the airline staff told us to stand in a special line, only to neglect us for 20 minutes. all in all she missed her flight, but was bumped to the following one at 8:30. i asked the desk attendant if i could be switched to the 8:30 flight because the poor woman didn't know what was going on, and really needed someone to look after her, but of course the attendant told me the flight was full. i leaded carroll to the bus which took us from the international terminal to the domestic terminal, and walked her to her gate. i stayed with the poor creature until she boarded. she hugged me and told me she loved me when we departed. god bless her, i hope someone helped her retrieve her bags. i think her husband was collecting her, so hopefully she's alright. i told her i'd give her a ring when i was in melbourne. i don't know if she'll remember me though, as she asked me my name over 20 times. that must have been one hell of a brain surgery.

in the end, i had a couple hours to spare till my flight, and it was my good deed of the day. it reminded me of my own mom or grandmother (rest her soul), and if they were travelling and helpless. i would hope that someone would look after my mom if she were in that predicament.

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apparently victoria is the swine flu capital in australia. that explained the loads of people with the face masks in the airport.