With the host families from the Diamond Creek Rotary club plus District 9790 GSE Coordinator, Don Hamilton and his wife Ann along with District 9790 Foundation Chairman, Mani Seneviratne, in attendance, the District 5610 GSE team said their goodbyes to the Rotarians from District 9790. Our month long trip through southeastern Australia was ending and soon we would board the 747 to Sydney and then on to Los Angeles. We had a South Dakota style good bye and said it at least three times and waved as we headed toward the gate.
Going through the final check point in Australia we made our way to the gate where we had our first of many “waiting exercises.” To say the flight to Los Angeles was long would be an understatement. Watching three different movies and eating dinner and breakfast somewhere over the Pacific turned out to be the high points of the trip. Breakfast consisted of either fruit or an egg dish. Ryan and Chris opted for eggs because there were some fat-riddled potatoes with it. As it turned out, the potatoes were the only edible part of the meal. “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss had taken on life in the form of breakfast. While the picture doesn’t do justice to the color of the eggs….they were actually a light pale green! Since looking at them was at best, difficult, eating them was even worse. So….a word to travelers over the Pacific flying the ‘friendly skies,’ skip the eggs for breakfast! Of course, Jacqui Scoular had to emphasize (translate: rub it in) the fact that she had chosen the ‘healthy’ and more appetizing meal.
Getting through customs in Los Angeles was actually a breeze and then the team changed planes for the flight to Chicago. Ahhh Chicago…..where there’s always a ‘little weather.’ (Translate – you might not be able to fly!) The plane was late arriving, but guess what? Our plane was late in departing to Sioux Falls. Folks who fly regularly from Sioux Falls to Chicago on the ‘friendly skies’ airline know that the commuter and regional flights land at the gates on the ‘F'’ concourse. Connections to larger cities are usually in either Terminal B or C……..a long way from ‘F.’ The plane from Los Angeles landed in Terminal C but since the Sioux Falls flight was delayed, the team was able to take its time in getting to the gate. Chicago’s ‘little weather’ system was delaying inbound and outbound flights……a lot of them. The plane was on the ground….the plane wasn’t on the ground…..the new crew hadn’t arrived…..the crew, but not the captain had arrived….a plane was being brought from another hanger….the plane would leave Peoria soon…there were mechanical issues and as Yul Bryner would say, “etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. The litany continued throughout the evening. Finally at 12:30AM we were relocated to another gate….(we were only ones left on the ‘F’ concourse)…..and we had a plane, a crew, and passengers…..the necessary ingredients for the plane to leave. Around 1:00AM, three and half hours after the scheduled departure, the plane departed and at 2:30AM, touchdown occurred in Sioux Falls.
There was no kissing of the ground, but that occurred to a few of us as we deplaned. Our total time in the air and layovers since leaving Melbourne had now passed thirty-two hours. The zombie-like look was apparent on everyone’s face. Hugs and kisses were shared by everyone but the biggest emotion felt by everyone was ‘relief.”
The team will regroup in the next month or so to put together the report due to Rotary International plus start on the presentation that will be made at the District 5610 Rotary Convention in Vermillion in August. But for now, sleep was calling, and the only thing between the team and a warm bed was the ride home. Hasty goodbyes were exchanged and after a quick walk to the cars in the cold morning air, we headed home.
Next time……reflections of the trip.
It’s good to be home.
Ryan, Kim, Jacqui, Macy & Chris
2009 Rotary District 5610 GSE Team to Australia
