Wow... over 5 days without my suitcases?? American Airlines really sucked this time :(

After four years of studying abroad, I carefully sorted through everything I wanted to bring to Paraguay and happily packed my only two suitcases... Little did I know that they would get lost on my way here... When arriving to Asuncion, after waiting and waiting for my suitcases, finally I made a baggage report with an American Airlines representative, and then came home hoping that my suitcases would come the next day. The lady who filed my report said that American Airlines would deliver them home... So I tried not to go out very much so I could be at home when they came. Then I realized that there wasn't any number they could be reached at... oh my goodness... I called the International Airport Silvio Pettirossi and they told me that American Airlines doesn't have a phone, that the only way to find them is by going to the airport when a flight from them comes or leaves. I never got a call, an e-mail, nothing from the airline. I called several times to baggage claim in the 1-800 number at the website... all the ladies there were really nice, but couldn't help me that much since they are in the U.S. or somewhere else.. they could only send electronic messages to American Airlines in Paraguay... what for? If all they do is ignore...

Tomorrow I start working, have no clothes but a pair of jeans and a shirt... Had to spend more money in new items, had to spend hours in the phone and going to the airport... and nothing... This has really been the worst experience I have ever had with an airline in all these years of traveling... and what sucks the most is that I have always been a big fan of American Airlines, but after this... it's hard to see me or my friends and family flying with them again.

I tend to always look at the bright side of the story, but so far I can only say that I'm really sad about all this situation, and I hope things get better soon... I hope they find my suitcases... it was a DIRECT FLIGHT... how could they lose them? Well.. I hope they also learn from this mistake and try to improve their service for customers, and specially loyal customers like myself.

As for now, I'm happy to start my new job tomorrow, and I'm sure I'll become very popular right away for going under-dressed to the office and people turn around and asked me what happened...

I want to honor Jose :)

So this is my friend Jose, I remember when we met, about five years ago?? We were not even done with high school, we lived kind of far away from each other, we did not have a whole lot in common: he was extremely smart, I wasn't (now is the other way around though ;), he was the best student of his class, and I wasn't, he could speak and write in English, and I couldn't... BUT! We had in common one dream! Going to university in the United States, and we also had in common that even though we were going to do everything possible to see this dream becoming a reality, we also trust in our God that He will be there for us no matter what!

The process to make it to the United States was not the easiest... many tears were shed as sometimes we thought we would not make it, and many more when we found out we were actually going to make it! Today, Jose and I are both less than 10 days away from our graduation dates. WE MADE IT! I thank Jose so much for being an amazing friend and always being there. Although he was the smartest, and the best at everything, he would always help me and truly look after me! Friends like my Josu are so few in this world, and friendships like ours that look after each other's dreams and visions.. not many.

Cheers to our friendship, Jose,
Cheers to our dreams!
Cheers to our graduation!!
Yay for many more dreams to become true with God's help!!