Arrival: The Longest 42 Hours

What was supposed to happen:
Arrive at O'hare, check bags, say goodbye, go through security
Chicago --> Dallas
Dallas --> Brisbane
Pick up bags, go through customs and recheck bags in Brisbane
Brisbane --> Perth

Estimated traveling time: 30 hours

What actually happened:

long lines, black and blue screens on my computer when turning it on, losing feeling in my feet and legs and worrying about blood clots the whole time from not moving around, overheated and malfunctioning planes for every flight,  late boarding and departures, rescheduling two connecting flights instead of one simple one to Perth, losing Katie at the Brisbane airport, calling Gary to tell him how tragic everything was and his Australian laid back reply "ok, see you then," getting sniffed at by customs’ dogs

Also,

great airplane food, sleeping a lot, reading Into the Wild, computer turning on just fine the second time when I got out of Chicago, quick moving lines, sitting next to civil, interesting people, finding Katie at the airport, meeting Gary knowing everything would be fine, wearing my kick ass new glasses and not dealing with contacts (do people treat you smarter?), riding the tram around the Dallas airport (beautiful scenery but still distancing myself from the South), seeing the Kzoo students in Dallas, no lost baggage (although other group members had to have theirs’ delivered tonight), dogs hilariously sniffing me and the other group members—including Anna who participated in a test to see if the dog could sniff a planted weed belt out), finding luggage quickly, quick rescheduling, planes did not malfunction in the air, a complementary Heineken with a meal, a $6.99 De Bortoli 'Sacred Hill Cabernet Merlot 2009' (wine of Australia) suggested by the sales clerk, celebrating with Steve, Elaine, Katie and Anna, setting up my room and unpacking bags, skyping with family

total traveling time: 42 hours

More on my impressions about this place later.  Considering I've traveled over 3 days worth of time, I still haven't showered or had a decent meal, none of this is quite real yet.  But I think the positives outweigh the negatives!