The first day in American Samoa - 7/13/08

I worry. Is the first hour any indication of the week that is to come? The flight was fine, no big deal. It was once we got IN to American Samoa that things began to get harried.

So we're getting off the plane heading in to customs and there's a SUPER cute dog sniffing the bags. We get inside, and Cheryl's asking if I saw the super cute guard guy. I was like, no.... I was looking at the super cute dog. So she starts describing his muscles and tatoos to me and her eyes went all a-flutter.

THEN we finally get our bags, make it through the other end of customs, walk through TONS of Samoans (it was it's own cosmos chaos) and I go get the keys for the car at the Avis counter. Then I ask for a map. Have I mentioned I’ve been looking for a map or a tourist guide for weeks and haven’t found one? Well, they don’t have them at the Avis counter either. I’m not sure if the streets have names here. They might not.

So I got very descriptive directions from the Avis chick (I think it was a girl, not sure). She made sure I listened by holding my arm very tightly for a very long time until I was actually almost uncomfortable. Go out to the street take a left, go to the first intersection, take a right, go down a ways and you'll see a sign on the right. "You can't miss it," she says.

So we're running through the terrible rain, and the guy is helping us find the cars by grabbing our keys and hitting the alarm button so we can see which one is ours by the flashing lights and honking. We find our car, and head out. Yes, we are two FLY chicks in a Toyota Yaris. Did I mention it was pouring?

So we drive out and can't figure if she meant left out of the airport or the parking lot. So we took a second left which my gut said would be right. It was. What I missed was the so-called "intersection". What the hell. There's no lights on the street. The "intersection" looked more like a driveway to me. So we get caught in the traffic as we loop around the airport again. In the distance I see a bus. I scream at Cheryl - I'll bet it's going to the TRADEWIND HOTEL!!!! You watch the bus, I'll look through the raindrops and make sure I don't bang anyone. Watch where that bus goes. She said OK. Pu-shaw.

As we go driving past the pickup area (about seven cars behind the bus), Cheryl blandly states that she doesn't see the cute guard anymore. I look at her in shock, and she's staring longingly out the window at the airport again. BUS!!!!!!! I scream at her. You're supposed to be watching the BUS!

We found our way out that time, followed the bus, and lo and behold, it went straight to our hotel. Hungry and resembling a drowned rat, the free bologna and cheese sandwich slathered in mayo on white bread they gave us at check in never tasted so good.

That was our first HOUR.

It's gonna be a crazy week.