I departed Simi Valley around 3:00 PM California time, reached the airport, and made it through ticketing and security without too much trouble. It helps that my dad is with me... this may not sound ideal to some of you, but this means that I don't have to show up on the day that I'm supposed to be there before 5pm, don't have to pay for hotel accomodations, will get a cell phone purchased for me, fed, and he even rented a car, so I didn't have to try and figure out the tram situation. Works for me.
Our flight was scheduled to leave at 6:30... we started boarding at 6:45. Why, you ask, is such an illustrious airline as Air France running way late? Because the shuttle that took the crew from their hotel to LAX got in an accident.
Until somewhere over Canada, the flight was highly uneventful. Then we hit two hours of turbulence. Hardcore turbulence. As in "I feel like I'm free-falling on the Tower of Terror ride at Disneyland" hardcore turbulence. And of course, you all know my extremely small bladder situation. Luckily enough, with a stern warning, during the second and not so nasty bout of turbulence, the highly disapproving flight attendant let me go to the bathroom.
We land in Paris at 2:30 PM ish French time, proceed to Terminal 2F, Gate 24, and sit around for a little. This is after I was accused of having scissors in my backpack by French security. I did NOT have any scissors, but I couldn't remember the French word for scissors and the security guy was talking very fast... luckily, no major delays and terrorist accusations.
It is raining in Paris, so we go down the stairs, onto a bus, and are driven to our plane. We then board the air stairs (think Burbank Airport) and on to the plane. No major issues here- I even have a window seat! So I'm sitting there with my dad's video camera filming our descent to Bordeaux, and taking some scenery shots when we land, and then I look down at the tarmac, where they are unloading luggage. The first suitcase that comes off the plane is large and purple- undeniably mine. I immediately turn to my dad and start freaking out.
The suitcase has two zipper compartments on the outside, one of which is open and I can see all of my stuff chilling inside the pouch. What I hope is all my stuff, anyway. I make it down to baggage claim, snatch the suitcase, and inspect the damage: both zippers on the top pouch are completely gone. Next stop: Air France baggage claim, where, after waiting in line and giving the guy some information about my address in France that is probably not entirely accurate, I am informed that I can go to one of their agent repair people, who will fix the suitcase at no charge to me. Yay! The only problem is that I have to wait a month to do so, after I have moved into my homestay and no longer need the suitcase. Sigh.
Made it through rental cars and hotel check-in relatively unscathed; the hotel restaurant is quite good, but it is French, and as such, is closed on the weekend. Oh well. The Chinese place down the road looks... interesting...
Tomorrow is shopping day (for things like shampoo and conditioner) and hopefully I can locate where I have to show up on Tuesday. I hope to have consistent internet access, so hopefully I can talk to you all soon!
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