November 24, 2021 goes down in my book as one of the most beautiful and emotional days, as Kelly and Jamie were married at Sandals Ochi Resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica! I can't say enough how happy I was to be there and relieved to say I made it to Jamacia and back without a single canceled or delayed flight! Hallelujah!
Now I don't say that lightly. Unlike the states, Japan is not open for international travel. While leaving Japan seems quite easy (just book a flight and take your passport) it's the return flights that caused all my headaches and heartaches. Since July, my return flights were canceled twice. By September, I had bawled my eyes out searching for a flight option that would get me home from Jamacia. By October, I went to bed one night crying hysterically thinking I was going to have to call my sister in the morning and tell her I couldn't go to the wedding.
And then my knight in shining armor, also more humbly known as "Bryan," miraculously found a flight path for me home. Yes, it was expensive. Yes, it would take me over 36 hours to get back into Japan. Yes, it would require that said knight to drive over 18 hours round-trip to Osaka and back to get me, but he bought the flight anyway.
I was going to Kelly's wedding come hell or high water. This man wasn't going to let me miss the biggest day in my sister's life. Praise God I married a wonderful man.
Just three days before my flight out, the country announced that it would finally allow foreign business travel to begin after almost two years of closure. While this sounds like a step in the right direction, there was a stipulation that business travelers quarantine for three days upon their arrival in-country. Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to SOFA members, so I knew I would have to quarantine for two weeks upon my flight landing. This did give me a little hope though that my return flight wouldn't get canceled mid-trip!
November 20: Flight to Jamaica
The morning of my flight, I made it to Main Base and checked in for the airport Blue Bus shuttle. Freak out #1 commenced when I saw sixty people also waiting for the shuttle. I knew being a military dependent traveling without orders ranked me lowest for priority on the shuttle's waitlist, so I nervously asked the attendant if they had a second bus scheduled to get us all to the airport. If not, I would have had to drag my giant suitcase a mile off base to either the bus station or train station and figure all that out. Luckily the attendant informed me that the base had just changed their stance of blue bus travel- they weren't requiring people to sit 6 feet apart any longer- so myself and 64 others were able to ride the shuttle that morning! Whew!
I'm not gonna lie, upon arrival at the airport, everything gets a little foggy. I feel like I was hyper-focused on my flights and making sure I made it to the right gates with plenty of time to spare, so I don't remember all the details of my flights. Here's what I do remember about my flight to Jamaica:
I got a burger at the Fukuoka airport that was delish. I remember thinking "the next burger I get will be 100% beef." (I say this because beef is harder to come by here, so most burgers are beef mixed with pork. It's just not the same.)
Upon landing in Tokyo, I remembered I don't speak Japanese and had no clue how to get from the domestic terminal to the international terminal. Thankfully there was an entire unit of Navy guys on my flight who were headed back to San Diego, so I played the helpless woman card and tagged along with their group. (Ok, I didn't "play" the helpless woman, I really needed help.) As we all made our way out of the airport to a shuttle bus, I learned that this troop arrived in the area 3 days prior aboard the USS Rushmore to deliver some LCACs. I'm sure my glazed-over expression showcased clearly that I had no clue what an LCAC was, so all these guys proceeded to pull out their phones and google pictures for me. (If you are like me and have no clue what an LCAC is, here you go. Wikipedia for the win.)
Once I made it to the international terminal, I needed coffee. I spent $6 on a coffee that had maybe 5 sips in it. (All drinks are tiny in Japan. I'm ready for my American Starbucks. Bring me a Venti coffee the size of a milk jug, please.) Hey, I'll take my small coffee in exchange for a flight that isn't canceled...look at the boards below showing all the flights that weren't so lucky...
The flight from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to Atlanta Airport was 12.5 hours long. I told myself I wasn't sleeping at all on this flight with the hopes of making myself so exhausted that I would quickly adjust to the time change. All I remember about this flight is that I watched at least two movies (Raya and the Last Dragon being the one I remember) and then reading both books I packed for the week. You read that right, by the time I landed in Atlanta, I had completed one book and had saved the last 50 pages of the final book for my last flight.
What the heck am I going to read in Jamacia now that I have no books. (This is the biggest fear of a librarian. Vacation without a book.)
I had a mere breakdown in the Atlanta Airport because of Chick-Fil-A. Yes, there are two Chick-Fil-As in the Atlanta Airport, but they were in other terminals. After I got off the plane, found my luggage, rechecked my luggage, went through customs, and then took the subway tram to my next terminal I had less than an hour until my flight left. I really didn't want to miss my next flight but I wanted God's chicken. If I could go back, I would have chosen the chicken sandwich. (Sorry sis. Wedding or not, I didn't get a sweet tea, 12 count nuggets, or a frozen coffee. I still see it, right out of reach, in my nightmares.)
My flight from Atlanta to Kingston, Jamaica was a flight from hell. Literally. It was hot, I had a Jamaican woman yelling into her phone which was conveniently left on speakerphone for us all to enjoy, the flight attendants reminded me of a college sorority and everything was super loud. Clearly, my time in Japan had taken a toll as I had to plug my ears during flight announcements to prevent a breakdown mid-flight. American society is loud and overwhelming and I was definitely overstimulated.
As soon as the plane landed in Jamacia, all I cared about was finding my mom.
To sum up my flight to Jamacia, here you go:
By the time I made it through Jamaican customs, I was exhausted, to say the least! (So exhausted, I forgot to take pictures once I landed!) After meeting up with mom, I was beyond ready to get to our hotel for the night. I only wanted to punch her in the face once, when she asked the customs lady if she "needed us to open our suitcases for her to inspect our luggage." I don't know anyone else who volunteers for the luggage checks, but if looks could kill, my mother would have died then and there.
My dad feared us traveling around the Kingston area alone, late at night, so I had a rental car reservation. Luckily Jamacia drives on the same side of the road as Japan, so I was prepared for that. I wasn't prepared to wait 45 minutes for the rental car to be ready and then for the rental car's brake lights not to work, thus leading to them taking more time to find another car. At this point, I remember telling mom I would risk my life in a taxi if it meant I didn't have to wait any longer. For the love of all things good, I thought we would never make it to the hotel.
Eventually, they got us a car. Five minutes into the car ride mom yells for me to stop the car. She thought someone was backing up on the main road. In reality, they were just driving on the right side of the road and this freaked her out. I considered hog tying my mother and blindfolding her for the rest of the ride. By 12:30 am, I was finally showered and ready for 6 hours of sleep!
November 21-27: Sandals Ochi Resort
By the time we made it to the resort on the morning of the 21st, I realized I had done zero research into the resort. I knew nothing about dinner reservations, pools, beaches, things to do, none of it. I had been so focused on getting here and back, that I hadn't taken any time to look forward to the trip itself! Mom and I spent the first day drinking the rainbow and exploring the resort. By "drinking the rainbow," I mean we ordered drinks of every color and worked our way through the rainbow throughout the day. There's no way better to meet your bartenders for the week than to begin by saying "I want something red and fruity." That gets their attention!
Kelly, Jamie, and Jamie's family arrived at the resort at drink "Purple Rain." Hugging my sister in that muggy Sandals lobby was worth all the stress to get there. Handing her a mojito helped as well!
The following day the rest of the Kimble crew made it to Jamaica! Seeing my dad and getting to hug him brought me to tears! Ryan surprised me with a Kindle as an early Christmas present! I was stoked to see him, and knowing he brought me such a thoughtful gift reminded me how good I have it! Ryan really is growing up to be a good guy. And you know Gram was right there in the middle of it all! That woman would do anything for me, and you wouldn't have known the long day of travel she experienced as she jumped off that bus to hug my neck!
Over the next few days, I enjoyed time with family and warm days in the sun.
Then the wedding day came and it was delightful. Kelly was beautiful, Jamie was nervous and I was in awe all day. I'm so proud of my sissy and the amazing man she has chosen for life. I can't tell you how blessed I felt all day to be around Kelly, as she radiated joy and excitement. This is the girl who I never thought would find a man worthy of her, yet here we are and I couldn't imagine life without Jamie beside my sister!
Thank God Kelly asked me to read her and Jamie's vows before the ceremony. She wanted me to make sure they sounded good and that they were equal in length. I will admit I read them with tears streaming down my face the night before the wedding, and I'm happy I got out *most* of my tears before the ceremony. When I tell you this was a dream wedding, it was. I mean, of course, I loved my own wedding aboard the Disney Wonder, but this was another world. It was stunning, romantic, and just what Kelly and Jamie deserved: perfection. And I did my best to hold it together!
The only way this wedding would have been any better was if Bryan could have made it. Unfortunately, Bryan was on deployment when I left for Jamaica and his ship returned to port the day of the wedding. Luckily, I was able to enjoy a few moments with him at the reception via FaceTime. My favorite picture from the night is of Kelly, Jamie and I huddled around a phone talking with B. All I can say is, I am blessed. Even in the tough times.
photo credit: Abby Daughtry Photography
The rest of the week was filled with laughter, girl time, sunbathing and me beginning my bartending journey as I made sure to keep the hands of Kelly and all her friends filled with a drink at all times! Looking back on this week in Jamacia, I didn't realize how much I needed time with my family, and that realization made the goodbyes that much harder. It also doesn't help when Gram asks when I'm coming back home to visit (at least 4 years) and my mom wants to know when she can come out to Japan (your guess is as good as mine).
Ending this amazing week was tough, not gonna lie. Hugging the ones I love most and not knowing when I will see them again is hard. As Bryan and I say, there are many awesome things about military life, and we have to take the good with the bad. It just so happens that this "bad" is one of the really, really tough ones to stomach.
November 27-29: Flight Home to Japan
The morning of the 27th, Mom and I were the last ones from the wedding crew to leave Jamaica. As we made our way to the airport, our driver pointed out famous peoples' houses but all I could think about was my long flight ahead and leaving my mama. By the time we got to the airport, checked into our flights, checked baggage, went through security, and found a Starbucks, we were ready to find a quiet spot to sit and enjoy our last time together. When they called for my flight's boarding, I stood off to the side and waited. I wasn't in a rush. Saying goodbye to my mom was the hardest part of it all. Don't get me wrong, I cried a lot when everyone else left the day before, but when they got on the shuttle bus, I got to go back and sit on the beach and forget. Now it was real.
When the flight made their final call for passengers to JFK, I held mom one last time and cried. Then the lady taking my ticket told me "at least there's FaceTime" and I wanted to punch her in the face. As I boarded my first flight home, I tried to collect myself the best I could and found my seat.
Again, the flights home become a bit of a blur. Here's what I remember:
Landing in JFK, it was dark. I was pretty tired and numb. I make my way through customs, find my luggage, recheck my luggage and then focus on finding some food. I checked and there is not a single Chick-Fil-A in this entire airport (enter disappointment). Next best thing: Shake Shack. I spent $26 and got a burger, cheese fries, the best Dr. Pepper of my life, and a chocolate shake. I believe I was trying to eat my feelings and I failed. Two sips of the milkshake and the rest went in the trash. I missed my family, but now I was missing Bryan; he's the one who finishes my half-drank milkshakes (and no, that's not a euphemism).
The evening of the 27th, my flight to Amsterdam leaves JFK. As the wheels are taking off, I realize that I will literally travel around the globe within a week. That's some crazy stuff! That wasn't on my bucket list, but now I'm adding it just to check it off. ✅
As we settle into the flight, I remember how tired I am. I force myself to stay awake for this 7.5-hour flight, again hoping to jumpstart my body into adjusting back to the time change. (Hey, it worked earlier this week!) I watched Matt Damon's The Martian movie and read half of a book on my Kindle. (Again, thank you, Ryan!) May have watched another movie, but it didn't make a lasting impression.
It's rainy and nasty in Amsterdam. I have a 5.5-hour layover and I feel like I've been hit by a bus. Luckily, I just had to go through customs and not transfer my luggage. I know that the second I sit down, I will pass out and miss my flight, so I walk laps around my terminal. I try reading, and close my eyes. Bryan wakes me up an hour later with a phone call. I am not happy to be woken up. (Looking back on this, I should not have bitten his head off when I answered the phone. At the time, I was ready to eat him for lunch? Breakfast? I don't know what meal my body thought it was time for.)
It's time to load up for my final flight to Osaka! I'm too tired to stand in line so I just sit and wait for final boarding calls. As people line up, I realize most of the people in line don't look Japanese. Upon further inspection, they hold Philipino passports. My body shocks awake as I fear I'm getting ready to board a plane to the Philippines and that there's another Osaka in Asia. I triple-check the flight info and realize that I am in the right place. (Sleep deprivation makes you think weird things.)
I try and sleep on the 11-hour flight, but no. Now I am wide awake. I want to beat my head against the headrest, but think it's better to avoid being detained upon arrival.
I have no clue how I pass the time. Movies? Book? Staring at the headrest in front of me? All are possibilities. At some point, I dozed off and 15 minutes into my nap the flight attendants turn on the lights and pass out stacks of Japanese governmental paperwork that we have to fill out for our arrival. My attempt at sleep has failed and I'm wide awake again.
The plane lands. I immediately power on my phone and prepare for the crazy process of Japanese customs. The plane announces that they want anyone with a connecting flight to the Philippines to disembark first. Ten minutes later, my Japanese seatmate stands and heads to the front. I follow, prepared to play the "dumb American" card if they aren't ready for us to disembark. They let us off without question.
I work my way through all 5 stations of Japanese customs. I spit in a vile for a rapid COVID test, hand over the stack of paperwork to each station, and give them copies of Bryan's orders, my DEA (dependant entry approval) form, and show them the multiple reentry stamps in my passport. Luckily I was prepared (and awake enough) for each step along the way. I bypassed some stations due to my military status and about an hour later, I made it through the final Japanese customs clearance, had my passport stamped again, found my luggage, and headed out the doors to find Bryan!
Quick synopsis of Bryan's journey:
Deployed for two weeks, and returned to Sasebo just in time to FaceTime us at Kelly and Jamie's wedding.
Enjoyed a lonely Thanksgiving with Stego, his roommate on the ship, at our house during which they had a Fast and Furious movie marathon and ate frozen chicken tenders, pizza rolls, and taquitos for the holiday. (Bryan said the pilgrims would have been proud.)
Picked up the rental car from main base on November 28 and made the 10-hour drive from Sasebo to Osaka. Reached his hotel around 9:00 pm, where he could recoup and prepare to do the drive again in the morning.
Got to the airport around 9:30 am and waited while Katie did the customs station rotation. Finally got to hug his wife, who hasn't showered or brushed her teeth in nearly 48 hours. Lovely.
Begins the agonizing journey home, which is only made better by the constantly talking wife who recounts the entire trip moment-by-moment. He does notice her stories bounce around and believes she is less coherent than she thinks she is.
Eventually, his adoring soulmate reaches the end of the trip stories and switches over to driving tips, and attempts to tell him how to get us home quicker.
He contemplates running off the bridge to end his suffering. After the first 5 hours of the trip, he pulls over so the speed demon can take over.
She drives for about 4 hours until the sun goes down. At this point, she's driving with one hand, holding her eyelids open with the other, and attempting to recreate Antarctica with the AC blasting full force at her face.
Bryan tells her to pull over. Ten minutes into this drive switch, she's snoring in the passenger seat, fully reclined. Finally a peaceful drive for the remaining hour back to main base, where the car is returned at 8:45 pm.
Here's a summary of my trip home:
Bryan was a saint driving to pick me up and I am forever grateful! His drive prevented me from sitting in a hotel room for two weeks, of which we would have had to pay out of pocket. Since he made the drive, I will also be able to start my library job on Monday; I'm vaccinated, so I'm only allowed access to on-base facilities during my quarantine, and since the school is located on the same base that we live, I could begin working!
Sitting in the passenger seat during the drive home, I checked my emails and learned that Japan had removed the 3-day quarantine for business travels and they were reverting back to a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all people entering the country due to the new Omicron variant of the COVID19 outbreak. The American Embassy in Tokyo sent out additional emails saying flights were being canceled and they highly recommend Americans postpone their trips out of the country with fears of further lockdowns.
I won't lie, I teared up. God is so good. He got me safely to Jamaica without any hiccups. He let me attend my sister's wedding, where I got to spend time with my family for a week, and then he got me home in the nick of time before the country went back into lockdowns. I can't say it enough- I am blessed!
This was a trip of a lifetime and I feel so relieved that my travels went smoothly. I would never wish the trip planning on my worst enemy...but I can look back on the last six months and know that it was all worth it. Seeing my family, witnessing the wedding of the year, and getting to party with Kel's closest friends made this week worth every ounce of stress!
I don't know when we will get together again, but at least for now, we can relish in the memories from an amazing week!
--Katie
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