Yeah the title is pretty straightforward. Between the Calgary International Airport, and the Frankfurt International Airport, I lost my laptop. Any guesses?
Yeah, I kind of forgot it at the security check point before getting to my departure gate. And not only did I access my backpack many times before boarding my plane and didn't notice that it was missing, but I also didn't notice until hour 8 of a 9 hour flight. Freaking out, I check all my carry-on at least 6 times, but I already knew that it wasn't there. At this point I was already going over the possible scenarios:
1. It's at Calgary at the security office and they can ship it to me
2. It's at Calgary and they will hold it hostage until I get back to Canada
all the way to
24. It's been stolen and hacked into and all my shit was compromised and I now owe someone thousands of dollars.
25. The airport authority stole my stickers.
And thus I spent the rest of my flight hyperventilating while the very nice Croatian gentlemen next me tried to make me feel better. Unconvinced, I get up and find the nearest flight attendant. Turns out that planes don't have phones anymore, so that's out.
Two hours later (delays), I land in Frankfurt and eventually make my way to an area where there are phone booths and internet terminals, after some very unhelpful Air Canada employees told me that they can't do anything. At the terminal, I get the phone number for the Calgary airport, and use my credit card to make the phone call, since my main method of phone calls was via Skype, ON MY LAPTOP. So I didn't have any phone cards on me.
Well, the 8 hour time difference meant that it was 4 am in Calgary, and the airport authority was closed, and I was given the number of the night manager. Separate phone call to him, where I find out that I need to call lost and found. Call that number to find out that it's closed, leave a message. Call my parents and let them know what happened, and get them to contact the airport in my absence. After all that, it's about 1 pm in Frankfurt, I'm exhausted, cranky, and it's really hot in Frankfurt (compared to Edmonton, at least). So I just go to my hotel.
Luckily, my laptop was found. What I can't figure out is why an announcement wasn't made in the terminal. It was the international area, so there were about 10 or 15 different gates after that security check, but it would have saved me heartache and a shit load of money. Why money? Because after my parents drive to Calgary to ship me the laptop ($), and I receive it, I also have to pay customs (about $125 CDN), which is still unresolved, as well as those phone calls ($). It's becoming expensive to be a flake.
This doesn't really sound like an Awkward Moment, but all alone in a foreign country where I don't speak the language, it was one of the most awkward moments of my life.
For info on the Awkward Abroad series and other Germany related posts, click here
And yet she remains to call herself a very responsible person *nods slowly*... Did she tell you how she forgot to PAY customs the first time around, which is the reason why the amount due just keeps on climbing? Yes. Very responsible indeed.
ReplyDeleteI am however very interested in how all this turns out in the end.