Life of a Business Traveler

Or life of me.

I was so excited to go on a two week business trip to Asia -- China & the Philippines.  I started to pack Thursday night for my Friday morning departure.  The first thing I always do is put my passport in my pocketbook.  I opened the passport to the China Visa page, saw it, and frantically looked for another updated visa.  EXPIRED:  AS OF JUNE 2013.  UGH.  I knew in my heart of hearts, I screwed up and the Visa was expired but I flipped through that passport like my life depended on it.  Surely I had another page with a valid visa on it.  NO.

I rushed in to high gear.  I accepted the fact that I wasn't getting on that plane tomorrow.  I called my co-worker in a panic.  I'd done this so many times before, went to the CIBT site, made a list of the requirements, ran to Walgreens in the rain storm to get two passport photo's, filled out the form online (I know better than to hand fill in, capital block letters in black or blue ink.  Frantically texted my China co-workers for desperate help:  need an invitation letter (magically produced within three hours -- THANK GOD FOR FRIENDS).  Found a pix of my passport page but unfortunately it had another copy of a Brazilian visa (would they accept it)?

I had heard you could get an emergency business visa, same day.  David agreed to drive me to the China Consulate the next day (42 & West Side Highway).  Be the first one on line, get one, leave Saturday.  Ok, all is not lost.  Tough luck -- no same day visa's issued.  Come back Monday morning the lady said, be here at 8:30.  Line up and you can get your visa first thing in the morning.

Rebooked my flight for Monday at 10:50am at Newark.  Would I make it?  Spent the whole weekend stressing out about this. Begged David to drive me to the Consulate, then straight to Newark.  I decided there were things IN my control, and things OUT of my control  I couldn't control the traffic, but I could control what time we left, packed up & ready, studied the gate the plane would leave by.  I had less than two hours to get on that plane.  I put so much work in to my presentation, I couldn't NOT make it.  I had to do it.  Somehow I always knew I would but the weekend was torture.

Supposed to leave at 6:30am.  We left at 6:50.  OH GOD DAVID, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BOOT UP YOUR GOOGLE MAPS NOW?  WE KNOW THE WAY TO NYC.  Took the Lincoln tunnel, what a mistake--Monday morning traffic like hell.  Finally got to the Consulate at 8:10--there must have been 30 Chinese people on line already, HELP NO, PLEASE LET ME GO FIRST.  Got in, no cell phone allowed.
Took a # and the lady said I would be called at window 9 -- I was number 509.

Now serving number 500 (didn't show)
Now serving # 501 (also didn't show)
Now serving #502

ok, now we're talking.  My heart was racing.  Got my passport -- go to window 8 to pay, hurry up slow people, out of my way.  Paid, got it!  Start the car, start the car---ran outside like hell, I'm out, I'm out.  David is double parked half a block away.  I run like I've robbed the bank in Thelma & Louise and jump in. All is well through the Holland Tunnel -- sky is sunny, I'm going to make it, I'm so happy!
Until we hit an accident on the bridge off the turnpike just 1/2 a mile away from EWR.  Oh no..........

Finally get there.  Kiss my hubby good bye-thanks David.   Check in, flight closed, WHAAAT!  The lady yells at me, "you were supposed to be here one hour prior!".  I tried, I tried.  She makes a phone call, all is well, they saved my seat.  Plane takes off at 10:50, I checked in at 10:13.  I run all the way to the gate even though I know I don't have to.  Its gate 138, as far at the end of the terminal as you can get.  Even though I'm not a Global Services anymore I push my way through that line.  I plop myself down in the seat and start to text everyone who helped me & heard my sob story through the weekend.

Get off the plane, take a 2 hour ride to Suzhou.  Please drive faster driver (he says no).  Take a shower, put on my special pink/purple Max Mara dress and do my presentation.

Ah, the life of a business traveler.