No shrimp for me please

July 19, 2000

The food they put in front of us was quite interesting. I knew that on normal airlines you would never be served shrimp and seaweed. But Asiana Air was not normal. The guys from my team who were sitting next to me didn’t seem to mind the food. I decided not to eat the seaweed but after tasting the shrimp I decided that it tasted pretty good. It was not breaded or fried, which was the way I had eaten shrimp before. But I like it so I finished off all five of the little creatures. Who knew how much I would have regretted that decision later.

I was really nervous about customs. We got through the last one okay when we arrived at our first country. But this was supposed to be stricter; I just hoped I could bring my bible in with me. We all walked off the plane down a set of stairs right onto the cement ground outside. I hadn’t been on a plane that did that before. I couldn’t believe it as I looked around. We were finally here. After all our months of planning, fundraising, saving and waiting we were finally here. I felt a sort of darkness in the air even though the sun shone brightly. A spirit of oppression seemed to be over the land. I kept this to myself however.

We went inside the airport and stood in line for customs. It was not a large airport and our plane wasn’t large so we were not in line too long. I noticed how those of us who looked America were treated better and given priority in line over others. One of our leaders who was blond and had a blond baby boy was escorted to the front, while another leader who had a little baby girl- but looked like the customs agents were left at the end of the line.

Needless to say I was relieved for all of us to get through without any mishaps. We each got our own luggage and started to walk to our bus. As I put my bag on my shoulders I noticed that it itched in a little spot under my clothes. I didn’t think anything of and just scratched and kept walking, but than after a few minutes a couple more spots itched. I still did not think too much of it.

But after a few minutes on our walk when the irritation didn’t go away, we were almost to the bus, I put my bag down on the cement and looked at my arms. There were red white splotches all over. Suddenly I looked up and all of my teammates were starring at me in alarm. I was told that I had a rash all over my face and exposed skin. The leaders were notified and came close to see. They were trying to find allergy medicine and they were discussing what to do. I just sat down on my duffle and cried. My friends were all crowded around me and someone yelled “give her some air!” so a large circle was formed. I itched all over and I couldn’t stand people looking at me and I didn’t know what was happening, so I just cried. My sister was next to me asking if I was okay with a worried look on her face. I was glad that she was there.

I was ushered onto the bus and I sat next to the window with the singer guy’s wife next to me. She prayed for me as I sat there in my misery. When I would lift up my shorts or shirt underneath was a white splotch worse than my exposed skin that came partly from my sweat and partly from the friction from my clothing. As the rest of the team got on the bus they asked how I was doing but I wasn’t in a good mood to answer. I itched all over and didn’t have enough hands to scratch everything. Finally I just put my head against the window and cried asking God why this was happening. The team sounded like they were having such a good time in the back of the bus and I wished I was with them. I tried to sing a song to God but it came out very bad so I stopped. I don’t remember any of that bus trip. My vision was askew and everything looked like a bright lamp was shinning. There were forms outside the window but it was too bright to distinguish.

We arrived at the restaurant about 30 minutes later and someone came to help me get off the bus. I was very weak and could hardly walk because my head was dizzy. I told the man helping me, “Bert I think I am going to faint.” and then I did.

I awoke to find four people carrying me by my legs and arms into the restaurant. We went through a bunch of tables into a back room which had a short table and a bunch of mats that were used to sit at the table with. They laid me down and I looked and saw my sister crying. She must have thought I was dying. I didn’t really try to calm her, some big sister I was, I actually thought it was funny because I wasn’t itchy anymore so I was of a frame of mind that I could find the situation amusing. I eventually drifted off to sleep, still wishing I could be with my friends outside.

I awoke to a quiet place. Some of the leaders in the room and they asked how I was doing. They were resting too. Apparently the building was owned by a man our leader knew, so we were allowed to rest comfortably. I was sad to know that everyone else went to the park and none of my friends were here. I got up slowly, amazed at how weak my frame was. I never knew that all my strength and energy could be drained so quickly from my body. I went to the restroom and cringed at my appearance. How did I look before when I was so miserable? I didn’t want to know.

Eventually the team returned and I was touched at how much they cared. One guys said I should sue the airlines and I laughed. It was good to be among them and to be close to how I was feeling before. God truly was good to help me get better, and to not have the circumstances more severe than they could have been.

Well I now hear of the incident even know five years later, for if I am ever at a dinner with one of my former teammates around I am always reminded not to eat the shrimp. For that is what we have accused for my terrible time of woe and agony. But whenever it is mentioned, I just smile. What a way to be introduced to a country!