Lost Luggage

today i took an adventure trip to the airport. someone from my hometown came to town this week, and was kind enough to bring a suitcase of stuff just for me. unfortunately, the bag didn't arrive at the airport when she did, which created a bit of stress for me...worried about if it would come, and if they'd release the bag to me since i wasn't the traveler. i was beginning to worry about if it was worth the hassle...for everyone involved

so today i went to the airport, armed with my passport, the lost baggage form, and a letter from Jen asking them to give me the bag.

its quite a process...i had to go to the airport manager who gave me permission to enter the airport.
the security guard at door was hesitant to let me in cause my name (on my passport) and the name on the baggage claim form didn't match. i showed him the letter and got in.
wandered around the upstairs of the airport for awhile looking for the right room.
found the appropriate baggage claim center...gave them the papers...
the man said, "oh, she want me to release the bag to you. no problem" (this was going way better than i was envisioning)
then they gave me 500 Rs to cover my cab fare for having to come to the airport (awesome).
headed down to customs with all the proper paperwork in hand.
waited around.

then the man took me to the lost luggage room.
not a nice room.
at all.
it was creepy and i kinda wanted to run out of it.
it smelled really bad...like pee.
i could hear rats.
eventually i even saw one.
there was lots of lost luggage...my guess is that it will never be claimed...
found my bag...waited a bit more.
signed a few papers...
and i was outta there...bag in tow.

then i got home...and any doubt about if it was "worth it" quickly vanished! it was like Christmas at my house...really "exciting" things like body wash, shampoo, conditioner, saline solution (although, really that all is really exciting). fun treasures from home that didn't make the cut when i packed in january (a couple books, and some kitchen stuff).
AND...
peanut butter
coffee
ant traps
twizzlers
M&M's
cheez-its

totally worth a trip to the airport.
even worth a trip to the smelly rat-infested lost luggage room.
awesome.

thanks airport staff for letting me leave with my treasure trove!
thanks mom for packing (and danae for shopping with her)
thanks jen for delivering!