Bad Day in Dutch

Well, I made it to the boat. But it wasn't a smooth transition. My flights on Tuesday were pretty good. I was delayed about an hour and a half in Anchorage, but I had my trusty nook, so I didn't really mind. The planes that go from Ancorage to Ducth Harbor (or anywhere else in the Aluetian islands) are small, and quite loud. They hand out earplugs at the beggining of the flight. When I arrived in Dutch Harbor, my luggage was not on the plane. This was not surpurising, as they are only so big, and can't accomodate everyone's luggage. I spent Tuesday night on the boat in Dutch Harbor. D (the professor I work for) thought the employees at the airport said a flight came in at 8:30 Wednesday morning, and that this flight could have our bags. I thought they said the next flight was at 10.

So, Wednesday morning (after traveling for a full 24 hours the previous day) D came in my room to wake me up to see about out luggage. So, at around 8:30, we set out on our WALK to the airport. It was about 40 degrees, drizzling, and windy. D said that someone might come by with whom we could catch a ride for the remainer of the way to the airport. Only a few minutes into our trip, a taxi pulled up and inquired as to wheather we would like a ride. Before I could respond, D waved it on with a "no thanks". So, chilled by the buffeting wind, but warmed by my seething rage, I continued walking. When we got to airport (finally), our bags were not on that flight. (Actually, I'm not still not even sure if there was an 8:00 flight. They told us to check back at some time I don't even remember anymore because we went back and forth the airport so many times yesterday. The other times, however, someone drove us.

Our boat was due to leave at 9:30 pm, so after the 6:00 flight yeilded no results, we went shopping for new clothes and toilettries. Now I own a Deadliest Catch sweatshirt. After a safety seminar back on the boat at 8, we were allowed to go back to the airport one last time to see if the luggage had arrived. It had not. We were promised by the lady working that they were on a flight of 2000 lbs of stuff (no people) coming in at 10pm. Right as we would be leaving. The only thing that might delay the boat's departure for us was a missing crew member who was supposed to have arrived on the 8:00 flight. So, hoping that that guy would be late, I asked if anyone from the airport could deliver our bags to the boat. (D did not want to ask the captain and chief scientist to wait another half hour). So, around 10:30? a van pulls up with missing crew member and D's bags (she had two-both arrived). I'm guessing mine were on the flight, but the people at the airport just didn't send mine out to the boat. It's very frustrating to be 1.5 miles from your bags, and have to leave for a month.

A lot of people on the boat have been very generous, offering me some of their clothes. Unfortunately, its hard not like everyone wears the same size pants. What I would really like is more than one bra. That is one item no one has offered. They don't sell them in the 2 stores in Dutch Harbor (I asked one of the cashiers- they have to be mail ordered).

So much for the trip being boring. Maddening, yes, boring, not yet.

Non-luggage news:

• The food on the boat is pretty good. The salad bar consistently has artichokes, kalamata olives, capers, and blue cheese.
• There is a mysterious source of leaking water in the main lab.

What are you nooking at?

• This Side of Paradise, F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Gourmet Rhapsody, Muriel Barbery (actually, this was a real book, not an e-book, and I read it on Tuesday during travel marathon)