Ashley's Journey Here

Hello friends and family who might want to stop by and see what we're up to :) I might as well jump head first into blogging about life so far here in Korea. Where do I start.... I guess I should start with the adventure for me (Ashley) on getting to Korea in the first place. My big, bumbling, heavy-breathing, always-have-to-pee, 7 month pregnant self hauled 3 huge bags of luggage and a large crate O'dachshunds across the world. It was not fun to say the least. I had trouble dropping off our Sebring at the port to have it shipped from St.Louis to Korea. I was almost denied travel from St Louis to Atlanta due to an ignorant employee at the Delta counter that claimed I needed to drop of my pups at air cargo and that I was sure to miss my flight since that took at least 2 hours to get through with all the paperwork. I was on the phone crying with the government delta help desk when a women returned from her break and asked what was going on. She saved me and said that the dogs could be checked there, no problem. The idiot behind the counter claimed he didn't know and wasn't trained on how to do that. How dare he upset a pregnant, over-emotional, already-scared women. Ughh. Idiot.

Anyways, I arrived safely in Atlanta where my wonderful father-in-law picked me up from the airport and toted us home to the Cravey house. The poor dogs howling the whole way home while in their crate in the back of the truck. You should've seen the stares at all the red-lights. I think fellow motorists thought we had them strapped onto the back of the truck dragging them. I immediately felt stress-free and happy getting home. I LOVE my in-laws and little sister-in-law Destiny. They are home to me. Mom made pork chops with amazing broccoli and cheese. It was so comforting being there, even for one day.

So early on Tuesday March 28th I woke up, showered and made sure I had everything ready for my flight to Korea. The taxi came and almost $100 later, I was at the Atlanta airport. He helped me unload with my 3 huge bags and large crateO'dachshunds and there I was, alone, on the sidewalk early in the morning not knowing what to do....and ...oh no...I had to pee! I needed a cart. Something to tote around my current life. I had to pee and when a pregnant girl has to pee it's not 5 minutes from now,it's now. Or there's going to be an accident on the ground. I paid a guy $4 to get me the 20 feet it took to get in the doors of the airport and to the unattended Korean Airlines counter. Of course. My punctuality bit me in the ass. I had a whole hour before anyone would be at that counter to help me check my bags and dogs. I didn't have a cart, didn't have anyone to help me. In my panic not to pee everywhere I hoisted my bags over the counters and grabbed the dogs in their crates and high-tailed it to the nearest potty.  I was quite a sight making weird faces and grunting as I pulled, dragged, and carried the heavy carrier to the bathroom. I entered the biggest stall and set the pups down and finally peed. I was a happy girl. 5 minutes later I leisurely strolled back to the counter as I had found a cart for the dogs crate - not big enough for all the luggage however. Now, I completely forgot about airport security and that abandoning luggage could spell terrorism... I peeked over the counter of the Korean Airlines desk and of course my luggage had disappeared!!!! All my clothes, my important docs, our PS3, Tim's clothes, Tyson's new baby clothes and everything that is important to us was in those bags!! Ugh! Stupid bladder!!! I panicked and went to a security officer to see if he knew anything about it. He directed me to lost and found. The girls there were so rude. I explained I had to pee so so bad and couldn't haul all the luggage on my own and there was no one around to help me. The lady responded "that's no excuse ma'am." I was crying of course. They didn't care. I was on my own. I finally found my luggage at the security office and I had to explain the situation and identify the bags. He released them to me and then I was faced with how to haul the bags plus the dogs down the elevator and back to the counter. I slowly started dragging the 50+ lb bags one by one inching them closer to the elevator trying to keep an eye on my purse and dogs at the same time. A lady saw me struggling and offered to help. I was SO grateful. I finally made it back to the Korean airline counter and proceeded to check in. I had the money for the dogs $400 but then they told me I had to pay $200 for the extra bag (military can only have 2). I was blown away. I had called a week before and asked how many bags I was allowed and they had told me 4 bags for free with military orders. I explained they must have been mistaken but they assured me I was the one that had the wrong info. I hesitantly gave them my debit card. $200 unexpected dollars for a bag of luggage. Ridiculous.

After a long drawn-out ordeal of checking in the dogs I finally headed to get some breakfast around 10am and I walked the dogs before their long journey. I rushed back to the counter to hand over Scarley in her kennel and I took Harley in his bag and headed toward the long line at the security checkpoint. I took advantage of the Military lane and quickly got through. I was so out of breath making my way through the airport and to my gate. I was hauling Harley in his bag on my shoulder and my purse with all my important docs on the other shoulder. My feet hurt, I was stressed, and uncomfortable. Harley was whining and uncomfortable too in his cramped bag. It was finally time to board and since I had a dog, I was allowed to board with the people that needed special assistance. I finally made it to my seat and eventually one of the flight attendants brought me a scrap piece of paper written with looked like lip-liner that Scarley was on the plane and safe ":)".  I was thrilled that someone cared enough to ease my mind that she was safe under the plane. I took a deep breath and patted Harley on the head from outside the carrier - he was wriggling around and trying to chew his way out. 15 more hours. 15 more hours of unknown stress and restlessness.


I wanted to make a note on the flight attendants. Korean air has the loveliest ladies attending their passengers. They reminded me of the girls in Harry Potter that came from the other academy to Hogwarts in The Goblet of Fire. So graceful and pretty and all looking alike. That's what I think anyway from the time I saw them all making their way through the airport.
While flying I saw "The Babysitter," "My Week With Marilyn," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "50/50," "Breaking Dawn," and some of "Let's Make Love." I enjoyed watching our route on the screen the most. I liked seeing I was over parts of Alaska and the ocean.

So in the 10th hour of being stuck on the plane I started to feel my feet and legs hurting so so bad. I went to the restroom and uncovered my feet. They were balloons!!! The were so swollen I swear they looked like they were going to pop. I tried to avoid this by getting up as much as I could but it was impossible since they had re-assigned my seat to the very back of the plane by a window since I had a dog. The guy next to me was pretty much passed out all snug in his seat smelling of all the cans of beer he had. He had his headphones on and two blankets all over him. I felt terrible everytime I had to get out with Harley in tow. I needed to get out every hour but it was so inconvenient I was only able to get out a total of about 5 times the whole ride. I had reserved an isle seat so I could go potty and walk around as much as I could but they changed my seat :( I could probably sue because I was in terrible pain by the time we landed.

After we landed and we were taxing our way to our gate I could hear Scarley howling. It was sad and embarrassing but she was alive and I was happy! I was so afraid they would forget to turn on the oxygen, or not pressurize the cargo area.  Once we stopped and everyone quickly shuffled their way to the front I sat there patiently. I was in the very back corner of the plane and had to wait at least 30 minutes until I could get off. I sat there and finished my movie, trying to keep my mind off my balloon feet, restless dog in his bag and Scarley - who I could now see out the window in her kennel on the ground. I asked one of the flight attendants if she had been forgotten but they assured me she hadn't.

I got off the plane and wobbled and slowly limped my way to customs and then to get my luggage and dog. I didn't know what I was doing and clearly it showed. I got to where you get your luggage and thank God they had free carts to wheel around your things. I had someone show me where Scarley was and to my surprise she was perfectly fine. She hadn't peed or pooed in her kennel and she was calm when I poked my fingers through the kennel and greeted my little trooper. She was happy to see me but not distraught.

I took the pups and belongings to quarantine and they looked at all of their paperwork and after about 15 minutes of talking to each other and me looking back and forth at them in their conversation (in Korean of course) not knowing what they were saying and if I'd get to go home with my little family members one of them finally looked at me and smiled and handed me all my paperwork and let me go.

I quickly got the dogs and my things and scrambled to the exit not knowing whether or not they would change their minds and come after me. I got a lot of strange looks from everyone. I was a big, pregnant, blond American with two dogs looking in pain and awkwardly wheeling my way around getting in everyone's way. I was able to make it to the USO and call Tim. I was happy to tell him I made it to Korea like a big girl and everything would be okay. The airport was beautiful and I stopped at McDonalds - I know how pathetic that I'm in a new country and the first thing I get is McDonalds. It was so so so delicious. Much better than what I had on the plane 6 hours before. It hit the spot and I got a plain burger for the dogs and gave them just the meat.

I then got my bus ticket and was making my way to my sweet husband. I slept most of the time on the bus. I didn't sleep at all on the plane so I was extremely exhausted. Every time we'd stop or slow down I could hear Scarley in the luggage compartment below howling as if to remind me don't forget her if I was getting off. I felt bad but I knew we'd be home soon. We made it to the bus station and I got off. Tim was right there to greet me!

All my stress, pain, and worries melted away as we embraced. I was home. Finally. Oh I was so happy. Even though I had been up a full 24+hours I had a new energy with the adrenaline of being in his arms finally safe. I wasn't alone in the journey anymore.

$40 later (the cab driver ripped us off BIG time) we were home at our apartment!!! The dogs were safe, I was safe, and I put on my pjs and we got into our bed and I had the best night's sleep - reunited and in the arms of the most important person in my life. <3

 

Our Bedroom