Back to the Amazon... on Continental Airlines

I'm headed back to Manaus this week for a nearly 40 day assignment. Last time I flew on Japan Airlines, but due to various new regulations put in place by our government contracting agency induced by the "economic downturn", I am flying on Continental this time. It's my first time to fly this airline, and instead of flying into JFK, I'm at Newark Airport at the moment. Continental has a huge hub here at Newark, so I'm currently in their "Presidential Lounge" looking out a window at a half dozen jumbo jets with their insignia emblazzoned on the tailwings.
Continental also offers a special "J Support" service for special Japanese travellers, and since I'm on an official "technical cooperation" project, I automatically qualify for this. It entails attaching big yellow tags that say J SUPPORT to your luggage and carry-on so that (a) your luggage comes out first at the baggage claim (it did!) and (b) an attendant meets you as you disembark from the aircraft. This second benefit, however, did not go quite as smoothly as one would hope.
The attendant is meant to assist Japanese travellers through the US customs and transfer process, and a brochure I received about the service assured that the attendant speaks Japanese and English. Well, I figured I really did not require such service since I would be transfering in my own country in my native tongue afterall. Well, when I got off the airplane, there was a woman holding a sign that said my name on it, so I stopped and she said she would meet me by the baggage carousel. I said okay, headed on to Immigration, which went smoothly, and I was at the baggage claim some 10 minutes later. My bag came out right away and I picked it up and then waited for about 5 minutes. I didn't see her so I thought, "Meh, I'll just go on my own," and headed for customs. Note to self: "When offered a special service, stick around for it!"
I was almost immediately stopped by a customs officer (homeland security?) for a special inspection of my luggage. He quized me about my trip, how much cash I had on me, went through my bags, my papers, asked if I speak Japanese, wrote down my company name, etc. Then, at the end of it, I was told to repack my things and shown the exit. Now, on the other side of customs, I heard an announcement of my name on the loudspeakers. The attendent was likely looking for me, but there was no way I was going to get back IN to customs, so after craning my neck a bit looking for her, I carried on.
After dropping my check-in luggage off to be sent on to Sao Paulo, I headed to check myself back in so I could get to the lounge. The line was loooong and looked like it would take at least 30 minutes, if not more. I pulled out a magazine, but was soon told to head off to Check-in Counter C-1 for a shorter line. Of course they don't mention that it takes 10 minutes to walk there and another 5 to wait in that line. But still, I suppose it was faster than waiting where I was, and besides, my flight wasn't for another 5 hours anyway!
So now here I am in the lounge, camped out in a corner chair with a glass of complimentary white wine and wireless Internet. So far the trip is going well, I suppose, considering I was able to sleep comfortably on the flight for at least 6 hours, and that was after watching Annie Hall (had never seen it before!), and Pretty Woman (a classic, but now classically outdated knight-in-shining-armor movie). Upon getting to the lounge, I tried to talk to the receptionist about the J Support attendant, since I sort of felt bad at that point. However, no one I spoke to had ever heard of the program, and probably couldn't figure out why I was talking about a service for Japanese travellers anyway.
Well, it's now 8pm and I can board for my next flight in a little over an hour. I'll get to Sao Paulo in the morning and then have a 5 hour layover there before I can take a 4 hour flight to Manaus. This is far too much travel time to feel like the 21st century, but I suppose in the meantime, I'll make the most of the complimentary wine to pass the time.