One Life, For His Glory, By His Grace.: I am going to San Francisco!

I'm writing this while on board the plane. It's Friday the 13th in July.

Finally I get to go to San Francisco. And with such last minute notice, I just had to keep rushing. Realized that I forgot to bring 2 things: (1) the thinner windbreaker, and (2) my camera’s tripod stand. Oh well, this is learning to survive with what you have. I’m amazed how I managed to come so far alone. It’s truly with God’s blessings along each way and really learning to commit everything Him. Thank You Lord!

I’m really blessed by how God brought people along the way to help me and encourage me. Here’s a little recap..

1230pm 13th July, Friday (Singapore)
Took lunch while trying to finish up the never ending office paperwork. Last night was a night of fulfilling a lot of last minute stuff. It’s amazing how I managed to somehow complete the necessary work so that I can leave without any urgently outstanding work.

1pm 13th July, Friday (Singapore)
Kissed mom goodbye. Dropped by West Mall to get one more box of granola bars and small toothpaste. And the money changer is closed for Friday prayers! Yesterday I wanted to get the US currency after I run my errands. But I didn’t know that the shop closes at 9pm. So by the time I finished getting my stuff and went up one level to the money changer, I realized that it’s closed!

1.30pm
Dropped by office to pass YY some paperwork (loan delivery form, Jun and July’s expense claims and July’s comm. sheet). YY and Francis seemed to be in a serious discussion. I just knocked on the door, explained the stuff to YY and said goodbye.

2pm
Headed to meet Kai. It was really warm and reassuring to have a farewell prayer and a precious little hug from a close friend who has been so patiently close by my side through all these weeks (months!) of trials.. Walking away from the church, I began to realize that I’m really traveling to a faraway place for a really long time.

2.30pm
Reached the airport. While walking to find the correct check in counter, I called mom. And finally after all the rush, having missed yesterday’s dinner, today’s breakfast and lunch with mom, I finally realized how much I’m going to miss mom!

3.00pm
Checked in! Apparently I can forget about washing my face in the plane as they said that my facial wash is more than 100ml (if only Eversoft did not give free extra 30%, I would be able to wash my face on board) and my toner bottle is more than 100ml too (doesn’t matter even if my bottle is transparent and only a quarter full).. arghh..

3.30pm
Finally Tony had time to have lunch! Tony, thanks for helping me get the cd that my friend wanted and zipping me around to get last minute stuff like colgate and granola bars, dropping me by my office, bringing me to meet a friend before I leave, helping me with the check in and getting to a money changer.

4.10pm
Saw the SAM machine and decided to pay my internet bills. Panicked when the SAM machine didn’t approve my PIN number. I thought I forgot my PIN and can’t use my card anymore and the thought that internet connection gonna be cut due to non-payment and then I won’t be able to contact mom scared me! Thought there’s another SAM machine inside and decided to enter the gate first.

4.15pm
Took a photo outside before I entered the gate.

Checked in! The luggage checks wasn’t as complicated as I thought so. I didn’t have to turn on my laptop, I didn’t have to take off my shoes. They only advised at the check in counter on the 100ml water and gels.

4.20pm
Asked the inquiry counter and was told there’s no SAM machine! Oh no! if I don’t pay the bills, internet at home might be cut off. Thankfully I was told that I can still pay the bills at Post Office. Managed to do just that.

4.30pm
Walked along the gallery and managed to find someone to take a photo of me and SQ1, the Boeing 747 which I’ll be taking. The photo didn't turn out too well. So I took another one on my own. This is the plane that i'll be taking for the next 16 hours or so..

4.40pm
Entered the plane. Everything was just sooo rushed. Mom, sorry, I didn’t managed to call and say bye. But I thought it was a good thing. Cos it’s really sad to say bye.

5.00pm
Found my seat on the right of an Indian father with a baby. We were in the middle row. He asked me if I could change seat with him so that his baby can be more comfortable..
I didn’t want to seat in the middle, so I declined. Then somehow, he managed the get the guy at the far left to agree to take the middle seat, and so I obliged to take the other aisle seat. The air stewardess was nice and asked me if I wanted to take some of the empty seats at the back. I took it. Not because I was seating with a row of Indians, but that I really needed that extra space. =p With my laptop and notes and all.. =p

5.20pm
Flight took off. Air stewardess Vanessa is sweet and nice. Hehe

5.30pm
Flight menu is being distributed. Wooh.. there gonna be dinner on this flight, and after HK transit, there gonna be supper, and then another meal before touchdown at SF. Hmmmm…

5:40pm
Right now I’m in the plane from Singapore to HK. I’ve switched off my phone. Am not sure what effect there will be back in office. Will there be a lot of phonecalls to answer and entertain? I’ve decided to say a little prayer and leave all to God. I’ll focus on doing up my assignment now. My laptop has 2 hours and 30 mins left. That’s about the time which I’ll have before I reach HK. May this be a fruitful time.

5.45pm
Going through bad air. Quite bad turbulent. People (including the cabin crew) had to remain seated and belted up, drinks were spilling on the ground and service was terminated. So I had to wait 40-60mins for the apple juice I ordered.

Thank God that I’m surviving well. No motion sickness. =)

6pm
Here comes my apple juice (service were resumed back pretty quicky) and I managed to fill my empty bottle with water. =) Need more water to prevent motion sickness =p

6.15pm
And now, here’s starting on my assignment… and trying to complete what I can with whatever I have.

6.30pm
Opps, barely typing out my introduction, dinner seems like it’s going to be served… hmm.. the air stewardess bypassed me.. was it because they saw me working on the laptop and they didn’t want to disturb me? Well, I might as well go to the washroom first. No indication of them coming back to me again. Thankfully, the stewardess of the other aisle walked passed and i could ask for my dinner.

Vannessa apologized for overlooking me.

Thankfully I asked. First step of learning to be independent. And here's my dinner.

7.00pm.
After I finished dinner, they came quite quickly to give me my ice cream.
Mmmm Ice cream with white wine.. nice! =) I love the white wine.. oops..missed getting the label..

7.30pm
Oops.. the 2 glasses of white wine made me sleepy.. =p would I be able to finish the gist of my assignment before I go to sleep tonight? =p

12am today = 9am their day (if I were to sleep from 10pm to 6am their day), then I’m supposed to sleep from 1pm to 9pm). So how? I guess, I will just work till the plane stops at HK, perhaps will work late through the night.. and slowly but surely, I’ll be able to adjust the jet lag.. )

7.45pm
Interesting. Suddenly the sky outside the window is total darkness. Just a while ago it was still very bright daylight. Now it’s complete total darkness. The Cabin lights have been turned off. I guess about 80% of the people are sleeping now. As for me, I turn on the night light and wonder if I should sleep.,, afterall I slept only at 4.30pm yesterday.