My Return

I just got back from China yesterday. Today. Whatever. Anyway, the reason for my confusion is the H1N1 Flu. That's the root reason, and no, I don't have it. Originally, I was supposed to take a flight from Shanghai's Pudong Airport at 4.35 pm and reach Singapore at about 9-10 pm. As I waited for the flight to begin boarding, the staff announced over the PA system that "due to international outbreaks of H1N1 Flu, the crew will spend some time disinfecting the plane and giving temperature scans to the passengers." And thus boarding time was re-estimated to 4.30, where it was supposed to be 4.00. I shrugged. It wasn't too serious, was it? It was.

After a while, around 4.20, the words dreaded by any airline passenger rang out over the PA system. "As a passenger on board has been found to have a high fever, the flight will be delayed further. Refreshments are being prepared and will be distributed once ready." New boarding time: 5.00. By now groans could be heard. Somehow I managed to remain calm and continued reading. Then, the time was delayed to 5.30, and finally, 6 o'clock. After the first two delays, I had joked with my parents that we would probably arrive in Singapore the day after. When we finally boarded the plane, nobody was laughing. The plane touched down at about 11.40-something. As I stood beside the luggage belts, falling asleep, the digital clock on a pillar read: 00.03. By the time I finally collapsed onto my bed at home, it was 1 o'clock. a.m..