My [non-existent] trip to Brazil

Friday - 3/30/07
9:00am- I arrived at Eagan High School where I sat around waiting for something to happen until 10:00. We then began loading the buses with our instruments and baggage until 10:30. We the headed off to the MSP airport on a bus that I though would break down at any minute.
11:00am- We arrived at MSP airport and unloaded our baggage and instruments and headed for the tram that would take us to the place to check in. We started a line and within about an hour we were all successfully checked in, had our boarding passes, and were ready to board our flight to Atlanta. Our flight was at 2:15 so we had a lot of time to walk around, play cards, and get ready for the trip.
2:15pm- We were on our plane and were ready to leave. It was a small plane one row of 3 and another row of 2. Our band took up most of the plane. The flight was good, not too rough, and it was short 2 hours and 3 minutes.
5:30pm- We landed in Atlanta at about 5:30 pm (Atlanta time). Our flight to Rio de Janiero was not until 8:40 so we had plenty of time to walk around, get to know some people, get some things done, and eat. We sat around playing cards, eating, and having a good time although we were almost delirious we were so tired.
8:20pm- (or so) An announcement came on saying that the flight to Brazil would begin boarding now, starting with Zone 1. Some people got on, but I was not to board until Zone 5.
8:30pm- An announcement came on saying that the boarding process for the flight to Brazil has been put on hold for a while. I was freaked out, and thought that something was wrong with the plane, and I knew that I did not want to get on a broken plane that was going to be flying over an ocean for 9 hours. We sat and waited...for a long time.
8:45pm - We heard an announcement that said the flight to Brazil had been delayed until approximately 9:30pm. We were annoyed, but we sat and waited...for a long time. At this point, minutes were passing like days.
9:30pm- An announcement from the Captain of the plane said that they were having problems with the Air traffic Control people in Brazil. He said they were on strike and that we were just waiting to leave until it was all settled. We didn't want to leave unless we knew for sure we could land in Brazil. He said we should be able to leave at about 10:00 but we should stay tuned until then.
10:30pm- We were still sitting at Gate E36 at the Atlanta Airport. I was really hard to sleep but we were all really tired. We started playing more card games, doing Sudoku, and coloring coloring books.
11:00pm- I was walking around, stretching my legs, when someone from our group told us that an announcement was made saying that the flight to Brazil had been cancelled. We were all really mad, but we couldn't even believe that it was happening. We were trying to stay positive, and we were hoping that we could get on another flight.

Saturday 3/31/07
12:00am- The band directors and the leader of Macy's travel went to the Delta counter tried to negotiate hotels for us somewhere in Atlanta. They issued us 27 rooms at a Comfort Inn, and we headed out to find a bus that could take us there. It was a small bus, so only about 25 people could get on at once. The first group, which I was in, headed to the hotel, where we were forced to sit outside because it was dead quiet in the hotel. The lady at the front desk then told us that they were sold out and that there were no rooms whatsoever available.
1:00am-After waiting for about an hour, and trying to find other rooms in Atlanta, with no luck, we called the bus, and headed back to the airport, where we tried to go back through security with no luck. We met up with the other people in our group who did not go to the hotel.
1:45am- We were back at the airport, and we asked to people who were still working at the airport, for blankets and a place to stay. We sat on the floor until we figured out where we were going to sleep. We were told that if we were hungry, Wendy's and Dominoes were open, and if we were hungry we could go there. I was going to get some Wendy's, but we all wanted food, and the line was about a mile long, and there was only one man in the kitchen. I decided it wasn't worth it.
2:00am- I am still awake, but just barely, and I headed to the atrium of the airport, where we were told we could sleep. We set up camp in the middle of the atrium with the few blankets we had, and we attempted to get some sleep. I think I fell asleep at about 2:45 and sleep until about 3:30 or so. I then got up, and then tried to go back to sleep again.
4:00 am- I decided that the sleep I was trying to get was just not coming to me.
5:15 am- I got up and went to the bread shop that was in the Atrium and got a cheese bagel with cream cheese. I ate it and in my sleeping area, and then at about 5:30 we got kicked out of our area by the cleaning people. Let me tell you, we were really mad.
7:00am- We were still sitting around, waiting to find out what we were going to do. We were all really tired, and I think I fell asleep on a chair that only has one arm. Uncomfortable.
9:00am- We were given vouchers for food by the airlines, and so me and my roommate Megan went to get some food. We got Chinese at Manchu WOK- Fried Rice, and some juice. It tasted really good, but there was a ton of it.
11:00am- We still had no idea what was going on, and we were sitting around waiting, trying to make the best of it.
12:00pm- We were brought together, and we were told that there was not physical way that we were going to Brazil. They told us that they had arranged a special flight for us back to Minneapolis, and they were waiting to get our boarding passes for us.
1:30pm- We got our boarding passes and headed through security to get to our gate for our 3:00 flight. There was no plane when we got there, so we just sat and waiting for what seem like forever.
3:00pm- We finally boarded our flight and we were headed to Minneapolis. The flight was 2 hours, but it was extremely bumpy and I felt sick the whole time.
4:30pm- (Minneapolis Time) We arrived in Minneapolis and found our parents some of which were not happy to see us. Luckily, my parents were understanding and they were just happy I was alive.
5:00pm- Luggage started coming in, slowly but surely. We waited and waited. Some of us got our luggage, some of us didn't. I did not get lucky this time, and neither my personal luggage or my ginormous Tuba had arrived. For all I know, they could be in Frankfurt, Germany, where out plane to Rio really went, or they could be in Brazil, or they could be in Atlanta, or somewhere in the MSP airport.
6:30pm- I just gave up, and we got a number to call and we left the airport.

This trip has been the worst trip ever. Everything that could have possibly went wrong did. Up until this point, (Sunday at 12pm) I still do not have my luggage, although we are still looking for it. We doubt that this trip will be rescheduled, and we will not be able to get all of out money back. However, I am alive, and no one was injured or sick. There was no emergencies, and we are all okay. I have one goal out of this trip- I want to go to Brazil before I die. No matter what it takes.

Note to Self- Never travel to a country where the whole government is striking, and the country is about to fall apart. It is not worth it. Make sure all is clear before you go. :)

Sunday 12:25pm - My luggage has arrived at MSP and it should be delievered withing 12 hours.