So I'm back in America now. I can hardly believe it. The summer went by so incredibly fast. There was a week at the beginning of July when I thought I would never get home. The days crept by rather slowly. And now that I'm back in AA, I can't seem to think what happen to the 3 months I spent in China. It seems like just yesterday I was freaking out about packing all my stuff to leave. Now I'm freaking out about re-organizing all my stuff in my room and re-packing to go home to SD to see more family and friends.
The trip back home was rather uneventful. A short flight from Beijing Capital Airport to Tokyo's Narita Airport: about 4 hours. And 2 hour lay-over which we used by stopping by the Starbucks. Our summer staple of course. And then an excruciatingly long 12 hour flight to Detroit. Though this part of my trip home was uneventful, the time thereafter was not!
I called Tyler (my boyfriend) straightway when we landed. I was so excited to use my cell phone and call anyone I wanted whenever I wanted. A convenience that I certainly took for granted previously. He quickly said he was excited that I was home, but said he'd call me later because he 'had some work to do.' We proceed to customs which was more painless than I anticipated and waited for our bags. That was actually what took ed the longest. We had a lot of stuff. I had 4 bags total: 2 carry-ons and 2 checked. (Quick side note: both of my checked bags were under the allotted weight limit for flights to China! 70 pounds. No over-weight fees for me. Yes!!) After we got all of our bags and made it through the last customs agent, we headed outside to find Keith's girlfriend, Becca, who kindly agreed to take me home as well. :) Through this entire process, I neglected to call Tyler back to tell him that I got my bags and was headed back to AA until we had just left the airport.
Meanwhile, Tyler, who I thought was at work in WY, was deboarding his plane that just landed in Detroit and frantically getting his luggage to try to make it to my arrival terminal to greet me. Unfortunately, since he landed in a different terminal, it took him quite some time to get to my terminal. He made it just in time for me to call to tell him that we just left the airport after loading our things into the car! So I unknowingly foiled his plan for our reunion by not calling him right after I got off the plane and got my luggage. Oops. I know next time he says 'call me right when you get off the plane and get your bags' to do exactly as he says! :)
So instead, he surprised me by waiting in the parking lot at my apartment complex in AA! Again unknown to me, my flight back to SD was schedule for Saturday morning, not Thursday morning. The entire plan was a big ruse that lasted over 2 months so Tyler could surprise me here in MI! How fantastic! I was just going about my business after I arrived at my apartment, slowly trying to get a bit settled before I thought I had to leave again the next day. I stopped by the front office to sign the renewal lease for the next 10 months. And as I rounded the corner to go back into my apartment building, I noticed a man getting out of a nice looking Impala car, very pretty color I thought and longed to have my own car. :) I glanced at him and he smiled this huge giddy grin at me. I did a double take and realized who it was! Its good to know that after 3 months of not seeing one another and speaking on the phone 3 times that it only takes me about 10 seconds and 2 looks to recognize my true love standing before me! :) I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought I was loosing my mind. Just a few minutes ago, the woman at the front office asked me my address and I could hardly remember it. So I was thinking that the 20 hour trip back to America and about 3 hours of sleep were just really getting to me. But then I finally started to believe who I was seeing! The first words out of my mouth were 'what are you doing here? I thought you were working!' Not exactly romantic or memorable I know. But I was (and still am for that matter) completely stunned!! It was Tyler's best surprise for me ever! He has been know to do this in the past: show up at my door unexpected and unannounced to surprise me after feeding my some lines about how he's hanging out with a friend or working. I think this is the fourth time he has surprised me like this. He is a very good secret-keeper and the best surpriser. I love it. I am so grateful that he is here. Before, I thought I would not be able to see him for about a week after I arrived back in the US. I was content with just being able to talk to him on the phone on a regular basis. Now I can't imagine not having him here to welcome me back home to America. He is so thoughtful and so wonderful. I am so lucky to have him. We're lucky to have each other. Thanks to all my family who knew about this little secret (haha big secret more like) and did so well keeping it from me. It was quite to web of little white lies I must say. And all of you were in complete unison. If it were me trying to keep the secret, I'm not sure I could do it.
Well, I think I'm feeling the time difference and a bit of the jet lag. Its about 6:30am and I've been up since about 4 unable to sleep. What better thing to do than blog, right? :) I wanted to share this incredibly thoughtful and wonderful thing Tyler did for me with all of you. I still can't believe he's here. Even though the plan didn't work out exactly as he planned (meeting me right at the arrivals area), it was/is one of the highlights of my summer seeing him smile at me in the parking lot. I didn't cry when I saw him. I was just too surprised and shocked and probably a bit out of it to react that way. Recounting the story now brings tears to my eyes. The best welcome home I could ask for. In a few days, I'll see my family back in SD (minus my brother who I will hopefully see in a few months). And then shortly after that, I'll make the drive across my beautiful home state of SD to see my other family in WY. I'm so excited to see all of you! It has been far too long. But for now, I'm going to try to rest for a bit and enjoy spending some time with my love.
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