September 6-7: Back in the States

After a VERY long day of traveling, I have made it back to the US, back to Brooklyn, back to my room and my bed. Yesterday, I spent the day at a cafe for the last time, mostly downloading music, getting my travel info on paper rather than in my computer, and chilling. I went to be pretty early since I knew my day was going to be very long.
Today I got to the airport around 10. My flight to Hong Kong was supposed to leave at 11:25 but it was delayed till 12:45, so I had a lot of time to sit around the Phnom Penh airport and avoid the urges to buy overpriced souvenirs :-) The food there is RIDICULOUSLY expensive as well- $2 for a can of Pepsi? Seriously? Anyway, since my flight was delayed they thought I was going to miss my second flight so they found another flight for me leaving Hong Kong at midnight, so I had a nice 8 hour layover in Hong Kong to look forward to. But, when I stepped off the plane in Hong Kong, to my surprise there was a nice flight attendant holding a sign with my name on it. I felt like a celebrity :-) Really they thought I had enough time to get to my first flight so they whisked me through transfer security and got me to the gate a good 15 minutes before my flight. Phew. The problem is, my luggage was now scheduled to be on the later flight, which means I'll have to go to the airport again to get it. Bummer.
My 14 hour flight from Hong Kong to New York was a blur of reading, movies, Flight of the Concords, falling asleep, and being fed way, way too often. No one eats that often! But I shouldn't complain since domestic airlines barely give you water nowadays without charging you for it. I made it back to NY and stood in a super, super long line to get through customs (the actual procedure took maybe 15 seconds). I waited and waited and waited in the hopes that my luggage had miraculously made it onto the plane last minute. Lo and behold, VICTORY! My bag made it! That means I don't have to spend tomorrow on a train to the airport! YAY! I stumbled sleepily through customs, and luckily they didn't check my bag and see that I have about 20 seasons of pirated TV shows hidden in the bottom of my bag. Victory is sweet.
Taxi home, roommate happily lets me in, I find some sheets and make my bed, and crash. The next few days are going to be a whilrwind of putting my room back together, finding all my stuff, doing laundry, eating bagels at La Bagel Delight, and hopefully finding a job ASAP.
This summer's been quite the adventure. I enjoyed blogging about it and thanks to all of you who have been reading. Next time I leave the country or go on some in-country adventure I will be sure to blog again!

Siyonara for now!

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