Finally. First, two hours at O'Hare waiting for the plane to take off, then eight hours from Chicago to Shannon, then three hours there waiting for a connecting flight, then another three and a half hours in the air, and, finally, this damn long journey is over. Actually, not quite yet -- I'm still at the airport: tired, exhausted, hungry, but excited and happy to finally be on the ground and not having to fly for another two months. Not because I'm afraid of the planes -- I'm just glad to be home.

But I'm still at the airport and there is a huge line in front of me [E]waiting for an immigration officer to process their documents. (How come I never manage to be among the first to attack the counter?..) It seems to me that even though I've been here forever, the line didn't move a bit. What can be more sadistic than keeping people who come back home after a year and a half in the airport terminal? (Of course, a lot of things can but I'm not thinking of them right now -- I just wonna get out of here.) They should separate those who return home from those who arrived from home and give the former the priority -- I can't stop paranoid ideas like this forming in my head.

Six -- what's taking so long?.. Five -- it takes forever... Four -- it's never gonna end... Three -- I'm never gonna get out of here... Two -- time has frozen... One -- can it be true? -- Only one person in front of me and I'm next?.. A woman with a kid behind me almost breaks down and starts swearing at the entire system of passport control and threatens to complain about this. I silently agree with her and say: "You can go ahead next, just keep it down a little bit for your own sake. Those guys at the counters have plenty of time and can keep you here for as long as they want." She takes my offer and goes in front of me but completely ignores my advice and keeps arguing. Well, I wash my hands... I do not care: I'm next. Story Index

I noticed it a long time ago: only waiting in lines takes forever; once it's finally your turn, it only takes parts of a second to complete whatever needs to be completed. The officer looks at me, looks at the picture in my passport, looks back at me, stamps the passport and returns it to me. "Is that it?" I ask suspiciosly. "Yes. Go on." And I'm going on, glad to have fullfilled the first part of the play, but not overly excited for I know that the next step is the customs control, and I already can see same old good line forming at another counter. Now it's even more huge because people have received their luggage and pull it along (there are no carts here -- only outside, past the customs).

People have crowded around the luggage conveyor belt waiting for their stuff. I hate crowds -- they make me feel insecure. In a different situation I would have waited; but now I'm so tired and start feeling dull pain in my forehead (maybe consuming unlimited free drinks on the aeroplane wasn't such a brilliant idea... -- on the other hand, what else is there to do on a twelve hour flight with a three hour stop?) that I force myself to the damn luggage thing looking for my suitcases. I suddenly realize that despite all the hassle I'm not even mad; on the contrary -- I became entirely indifferent to the situation. Of course, I'm still eager to see my mom and dad but at the same time I know that no matter what I do, it's not gonna bring this moment any closer.

I already found my first suitcase and am patienltly waiting for the other to come out. Ten minutes, fifteen, twenty... Finally the belt stops, people pick up their things and head to the customs gates. There are a couple of bags left but none of them looks like mine. Well, I cannot say it took me by surprise, I certainly did account for it to happen -- I guess that's what you get when you take the cheapest flight there is. And once again, I don't feel mad or upset -- suddenly I feel so helpless and start looking for an officer with the least aggressive expression on the face. First couple of my attempts to find out about my missing piece of luggage failed before I even could start stating my problem: guys who work here are definitely used to ignoring others -- here it's their kingdom, and who would miss the opportunity to show that he is the allmighty one, even if the kingdom is as tiny as the international terminal of a lousy airport? But then somebody listens to my stammering (I already have lost my recently acquired American self-confidence) and says: "Did you check at the other conveyor belt?" With one suitcase in my hand I'm running to another end of the hall where the sign over the luggage river says "BEYRUT." Wow, who knew I had to check out all of them? -- I'm slowly returning to the Russian reality. And really, between two boxes filled with peaches I see my lost treasure and for the first time after the landing I feel something similar to happiness. Story Index

And now -- to the final frontier! The customs declaration is filled out, I have all of my luggage, the headache doesn't seem to be too bad afterall, but I'm at the end of the line again, and everything repeats second time around. I think of my parents and feel aweful for them: they probably arrived at the airport to pick me up way in advance (I know my mom), and it's already been more than two hours since I left the plane. I can see the young woman with a kid again -- she already made it to the customs and an officer is giving her hard time: all of her stuff is unpacked.

All of a sudden another counter opens and I, don't know how, am there first in one jump, with my pretty heavy suitcases and a backpack (that's where the survival instincts come into play). "What's inside? Personal cloths and presents?" "Yes," I go and try to remember what's all the stuff I packed in there. But there's no need for this: my customs declaration has been stamped. I even feel somewhat offended -- have I been waiting for more than two hours for you just to ask me that and stamp a piece of paper within two seconds?! No "Please open your bags," no "Please follow me for the personal (say: strip) search," as it was last time? I can't believe that I'm finally free. The officer looks in my passport and asks: "Are you a permanent resident of the United States?" "Yes, I am." "Are you coming back there?" "You can bet your ass!" is the first thing that comes to my mind but I only servantly cast down my eyes and say "Yes, sir" as softly as I can. Story Index

Emotion Structure of the Story

• Agents
  1. NARRATOR
  2. IMMIGRATION OFFICER(S)
  3. WOMAN
  4. OTHER PASSENGERS
• Emotions
  1. Satisfaction. S, S2. The NARRATOR is satisfied about his long flight being over. He is pleased to have achieved his goal, in this case -- his destination point.
     • Goal realization: 10 (the NARRATOR achieved his immediate goal -- the journey safely ended and he is on the ground)
     • Effort: 2 (even though the NARRATOR did not contribute to the technical aspects of the trip such as safe landing etc., he had planned and paid for the trip)
     • Importance to agent: 7 (the achievement of the goal is important to the NARRATOR, especially since the trip was an overall uncomfortable experience)
  2. Disliking. S. Apparently, the NARRATOR did not find his trip very appealing because of its length, stops, and, probably, his own impatience.
     • Repulsiveness: -5 (The NARRATOR disliked the flight, as one can tell from the way he describes it)
     • Temporal proximity: 0.8 (the experience of the trip is very recent)
  3. Distress.S. The NARRATOR is displeased about the long flight which resulted in his current condition and about being tired, exhausted and hungry, thus blocking his goal of well-being.
     • Importance to agent of not having goal blocked: 3 (although it is important to the NARRATOR to feel well, he takes into consideration that seldom long flights are pleasant)
     • Physical well-being: 1 (the NARRATOR does feel uncomfortable but this feeling is not very intense because of his primary goal being achieved)
  4. Joy.S. (the NARRATOR is pleased about the fact that he is in his home town)
     • Importance to agent: 7 (it is quite important to the NARRATOR to visit his home town for two reasons: 1) he was away for a while; 2) Being home means the end of the exhausting trip)
     • Physical well-being: 1 (same as in previous item: the NARRATOR experiences some discomfort)
     • Ecstasy: 2 (the NARRATOR finds himself in some sort of euphoria -- he does not fully realize that he is not really home yet)
  5. Disliking.S. The situation contains a very unattractive object for the NARRATOR -- a huge line.
     • Repulsiveness: -7 (the NARRATOR dislikes the line strongly because it contrasts with his recent feeling of euphoria)
     • Goal blockage: -2 (the line is an obstacle on the NARRATOR's way to get out of the airport)
  6. Fear.S. When the NARRATOR sees the line he fears that it will delay the achievment of his goal of getting out of the airport. He is displeased about the fact that he will have to wait longer than expected.
     • Temporal proximity: 0.9 (the NARRATOR is about to join the line)
     • Certainty: 0.8 (there is no way of avoiding this experience)
     • Goal blockage: -2 (it does not block the achievment of the goal entirely but considerably delays it)
     • Importance to agent of not having the goal blocked: 4 (important, but the NARRATOR knows that it does not mean a complete blockage)
  7. Resentment.S.Even though it is more of a general observation, the NARRATOR is displeased about the fact that some people are closer to the realization of the goal than he is.
     • Importance to agent: 2 (it does not seem to be too important to the NARRATOR to be among the first in the line; he might even prefer to wait longer than to run and to "fight" for a better place in the line. However, it might not be the case, there is no directy indication)
     • Deservingness: 1 (the NARRATOR thinks that he does not deserve to be always at the end of a line)
  8. Reproach.S.The NARRATOR thinks that the OFFICERS are wrong to keep people waiting so long. It violates NARRATOR's principle stating that it is wrong to keep people waiting for a long period of time.
     • Blaimworthiness/praiseworthiness: -8 (the NARRATOR feels that there is no justification for such an act: the OFFICERS should account for large numbers of people and work more efficiently)
     • Importance to agent of having principle upheld: 7 (the principle has been violated and it is important to the NARRATOR, although he understands that this is unavoidable in this particular situation)
     • Emotional interrelatedness: 0.5 (the NARRATOR does not really see OFFICERS as persons, more as representatives of a system)
  9. Distress.S.,S2.The NARRATOR is certainly displeased about the situation but his senses became more dull.
     • Physical well-being: 1 (the situation is, obviously, to some extent uncomfortable for the NARRATOR)
  10. Shame.S.The NARRATOR disaproves the idea that just crossed his mind.
      • Blaimworthiness/praiseworthiness: -1 (the NARRATOR thinks that it is not right to discriminate between people but since he did not mean it in a serious way, it's OK)
      • Importance to agent of having principles upheld: 8 (the principle of treating people equally should not be violated)
  11. Hope.S.The NARRATOR is pleased about the fact that he is the next person to approach the counter.
      • Temporal proximity: 0.8 (in the near future)
      • Certainty: 0.8 (Almost certain but anything could happen)
      • Goal realization: 5 (it is crucial to pass passport control but it does not bring the NARRATOR to the realization of his goal yet)
      • Importance to agent of not having the goal blocked: 4 (important, but the NARRATOR knows that it does not mean a complete blockage)
      • Sense-of-reality: 0.8 (the NARRATOR cannot believe that it is true)
  12. Anger.S.,S2.The WOMAN is angry at the system of passport control that, in her opinion, is not human.
      • Blaimworthiness/praiseworthiness: -9 (the WOMAN feels that there is no justification for such a long time for processing the documents: the OFFICERS should account for large numbers of people and work more efficiently)
      • Importance to agent of having principle upheld: 9 (the principle has been violated and it is important to the WOMAN, she does not want to account for circumstances)
      • Emotional interrelatedness: 2 (although the WOMAN does not see OFFICERS as persons, she is angry at them as the representatives of a system)
      • Physical well-being: 0.5 (the WOMAN probably feels intensely uncomfortable, that's what causes her anger)
      • Arousal: 2 (the WOMAN is aroused)
  13. Sorry-for.S.The NARRATOR is displeased about about the fact that the WOMAN feels intensely uncomfortable and lets her go first.
      • Emotional interrelatedness: 0 (the NARRATOR and the WOMAN do not know each other)
      • Importance to agent of having principles upheld: 2 (the NARRATOR does not let all women in the line go first, only this one)
  14. Reproach.S.The NARRATOR disapproves WOMAN's arguing because he thinks that it will not do any good for her.
      • Blameworthiness/praiseworthiness: -1 (the NARRATOR thinks that the WOMAN's actions are neither neccessary nor rational but he does not blame her for this because he does not know her)
      • Importance to agent of having principle upheld: 1 (the NARRATOR's principle that one should not argue with immigration OFFICERS has been violated but it does not directly affect the NARRATOR)
      • Emotional interrelatedness: 0 (the NARRATOR does not know the WOMAN)
  15. Hope.S.The NARRATOR is pleased about the fact that he is next.
      • Temporal proximity: 0.8 (in the near future)
      • Certainty: 0.9 (this time more certain because he probably would not let anyone else go in front of himself)
      • Goal realization: 5 (it is crucial to pass passport control but it does not bring the NARRATOR to the realization of his goal yet)
      • Importance to agent of not having the goal blocked: 4 (important, but the NARRATOR knows that it does not mean a complete blockage)
  16. Suspicion (Fear).S.The NARRATOR fears that there might be something else.
      • Certainty: 0.3 (the NARRATOR is not certain that this procedure is over)
      • Sense-of-reality: 0.8 (the NARRATOR cannot believe that it is true)
  17. Annoyance (Reproach).S.The OFFICER disapproves passengers asking questions.
      • Blameworthiness/praiseworthiness: -1 (the OFFICER probably thinks that the NARRATOR should not ask stupid questions)
      • Emotional interrelatedness: 0 (the NARRATOR and the OFFICER consider each other rather Objects than Agents)
  18. Satisfaction.S. The NARRATOR is pleased to have finally achieved his goal of passing the passport control without complications.
      • Goal realization 1: 10 (the NARRATOR achieved his goal of passing the passport control)
      • Goal realization 2: 0 (the NARRATOR did not achieve his goal of getting out of the airport yet)
      • Importance to agent of achieving goal: 10 (the NARRATOR cannot leave the airport without having passed the passport control first)
  19. Scepticism (Fear).S.The NARRATOR is displeased about the prospective experience of standing in another line. He fears that this event will delay the achievement of his final goal.
      • Temporal proximity: 0.7 (the NARRATOR is about to join the line as soon as he picks up his luggage)
      • Certainty: 1 (there is no way of avoiding this experience)
      • Goal blockage: -2 (it does not block the achievment of the goal entirely but considerably delays it)
      • Importance to agent of not having the goal blocked: 4 (important, but the NARRATOR knows that it does not mean a complete blockage)
• Relationships
  1. There are no established relationships between the agents in the story. One can assume that the NARRATOR and the WOMAN dislike one or more of the present OFFICERS as representatives of a certain system.
  2. Both sides (OFFICERS and NARRATOR/WOMAN) consider each other rather objects than agents.
  3. There is no personal relationship between the WOMAN and the NARRATOR either.
  4. There is no relationship between OTHER PASSENGERS and the rest of the agents.
• Objects
  1. Airports: O'Hare, Shannon, Destination
  2. Flight
  3. Home (Destination)
  4. Destination airport's immigration and customs facilities
  5. Lines (Agents in the lines seen as objects)
  6. Counter
  7. Experience of waiting in the line
  8. Time
  9. Passport
  10. Luggage
• Occurrences
  1. NARRATOR flies from Chicago to his Destination via Shannon
  2. NARRATOR arrives at his Destination
  3. NARRATOR waits in line for passport control
  4. It bothers NARRATOR that the line moves very slowly
  5. NARRATOR thinks that keeping those who come home in the airport for a long time is not right
  6. NARRATOR counts time and people left in front of him
  7. WOMAN starts arguing
  8. NARRATOR talks to WOMAN
  9. NARRATOR lets WOMAN go first
  10. OFFICERS checks NARRATOR'S passport
  11. NARRATOR speaks to OFFICER
  12. NARRATOR sees a new line
  13. OTHER PASSENGERS receive their luggage and form a new line
• Events
  1. NARRATOR gets to his home town
  2. NARRATOR waits for a long period of time
  3. WOMAN argues
  4. NARRATOR lets WOMAN go first
  5. NARRATOR successfully passes passport control
  6. NARRATOR realizes that he is only halfway to his final goal
• Actions
  1. OFFICERS keep other Agents waiting too long
  2. WOMAN argues
  3. NARRATOR lets WOMAN go first
• Goals
  1. NARRATOR: wants to get out of the airport as quickly as possible
  2. WOMAN: wants to get out of the airport as quickly as possible and to avoid waiting in the line
  3. OTHER PASSENGERS: most likely have the same goal, even though there is no direct indication
• Principles
  1. NARRATOR: in order to enter a country one should pass passport control.
  2. WOMAN: in order to enter a country one should pass passport control.
  3. OTHER PASSENGERS: in order to enter a country one should pass passport control.
  4. OFFICERS: in order to enter a country one should pass passport control.
  5. All Agents: People should wait in lines in order to proceed to the immigration counter
  6. NARRATOR: it is not right to keep people waiting for long periods of time.
  7. NARRATOR: everybody should be treated equally
  8. WOMAN: it is not right to keep people waiting for long periods of time.
  9. NARRATOR: one should let WOMEN with children go first -- at least when they start arguing.
  10. NARRATOR: one should not argue with IMMIGRATION OFFICERS.
• Preferences
  1. NARRATOR: aeroplanes, and the experience of flying them, is not attractive
  2. NARRATOR: airports, and the experience of spending there time waiting, is unattractive
  3. NARRATOR: experience of being home after a long trip is attractive
  4. NARRATOR: long lines, and experience of waiting there, is unattractive
  5. WOMAN: long lines, and experience of waiting there, is unattractive
  6. NARRATOR: procedures of passport control are unattractive
  7. WOMAN: procedures of passport control are unattractive

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