Rachel goes to London...for lunch.

Let me tell you all a little story...unfortunately it's more of an autobiography...

On Saturday morning...around 9:30 am, Brandon (top left), Michelle (bottom left), myself (bottom middle), Johannes (bottom right), and Charley (not pictured) set off in a 15 passenger van headed to Los Angeles from San Diego. Everything was running perfectly on schedule, we were feeling good.

Upon arrival at the airport, a nice man offered to load our bags and boxes of merchandise up onto a cart and escort us to the check in area. By the end of our time, he was calling us by name and very excited to know that we were off on a mission! We hung out for a while in the food area...then met up with Kimmy (top right) and Jedidiah (top middle). At that time, we parted with Charley, who was on a separate flight from the rest of us...she's British...you'd love her.

We got all loaded up on the plane and set off to cross the big pond! The flight was nice...the food was impeccable...the service was unprecedented. Jed, Kimmy, and I all took ourselves some Tylenol PM (aka TPM) and slept for the vast majority of the flight. Upon arrival in London, I was thrilled to realize that it was not nearly as cold as I had been anticipating...but that would prove to be neither here nor there...unfortunately. Because just moments later, I would be stuck in no-man's land...not in the US...not in the UK...but we were stuck in Terminal 5. Dun dun dun.

Read on if you think you can stomach it...

When going through customs, we all went to different officials, some seemed nicer than others. My guy really liked me and I promise I was going through...then he got all hesitant and jumpy when Jed's official got hesitant and jumpy. It was an epidemic...it spread like wildfire. Before we could say , we found ourselves in the detainment area...then being fingerprinted...then getting our pictures taken...then getting individually interrogated by a human that was hand writing the interview...verbatim.

I know it seems as though this experience had to have been a nightmare...however, the group as a whole kept each other's spirits high...and actually an unnatural amount of laughter took over us for the following 25 hours. It only took them 5 hours to decide that we needed to be returned to sender. Luckily, they gave us chicken sandwiches (I use the term loosely) and little water shots before our big send off. How kind. The reason for our detainment was that there had been a change in law in late November saying that any kind of work (volunteer or otherwise) required a work permit in order to be allowed in. Yes, we could have lied and said we were traveling, but who would have thought that six volunteers trying to raise awareness about child soldiers in Northern Uganda would be unwelcome in a fairly friendly country?

The head hancho came out and announced, "It's not good news...but you do have thirty minutes before your flight to the state takes off. Unfortunately, we must check your bags, send you through security, and get you off to Chicago...did I mention you were going to Chicago?"

After rushing through the madness that is security, we found ourselves...all six of us...locked in a metal cage in the bag of what I like to call a militarized mini-van. Cameras and all. The three stooges that were navigating (they would not be offended by me calling them that, I assure you) literally had us driving in circles around airplanes trying to figure out which one we were actually to board. Once we arrived, we boarded the plane, and off we went...Chicago bound...

Kimmy and I laughed the entire way, it seemed, because we still could not believe what had actually taken place. Two airplane meals later, a small bottle of wine, and some more TPM, we found ourselves in Chicago...looking at the snow. At this point, all we could do was look at it...we hadn't actually inhaled fresh air in aboooout two days. Of course I bought an "I <3 Chicago" pin before hoppin' on yet another flight.

Back in LA...we grabbed our luggage...or what was left of it. Fortunately, our bags made it safely, our merchandise...not so lucky. Waaa waaaa. We left the airport around midnight and loaded up once more in a 15 passenger van headed back to San Diego.

So here we are, Kimmy and I, still laughing...a little bit of anger thrown in the mix...and still confused about what the heck just happened! We were in London...why are we here now? Not to mention the confusion that is my internal clock...what time zone am I in? We spent our day at the office. I'd like to say that we were productive...but that would be a lie. We were zombies.

Our plan to get back to London...and PAST Terminal 5...has yet to be determined. We're working on it, but are open to suggestions. Anyone happen to know the Prime Minister. Or the Queen?

One plan we do have set is that we're adjusting back to the London time zone. Tomorrow we will go in to the office at 9am with the rest of the Roadies...finish the day around 6...then head back to the office around midnight in order to be able to reach schools via telephone instead of email. We'll get to sleep in and work a half-day during the day...then back to the office at night. How can you not pity us? :) The funny thing is that we're all still ready to be in London and would board another flight now, if given the chance.

The End.

My favorite moments of the adventure:
1. the Tuscan chicken dinner on flight #1...when we were still impressed with airplane food.
2. the croissant breakfast on flight #1...still impressed.
3. NOT the bland chicken sandwich at Terminal 5. Unimpressed.
4. Having a document that states: "Your removal from the United Kindom is imminent."
5. Thinking Jed's iPod cover was ACTUALLY a hymn book...for hours. Oops.
6. playin sudokuuuuu.

I know yall don't understand these...but please know that Kimmy and I are laughing very hard...and it's helping to override the anger...consider it blogging-therapy. Thanks for listening.