Travel Notes- Friday and Saturday

(Friday 6:15pm in Dulles on the tarmac...) I have a whole row to myself on this leg of the trip. Row 39 EFG. Lucky me! Now I can stretch out. It's already strange on the plane- no one is speaking english around me. I hear french, german, and dutch. All of the ennouncements are in multiple languages. The flight is 6 hours and 12 minutes. They are showing a series of movies 3 different times during the flight. I can choose from Flash of Genious, Secret Lives of Bees, Nights at Rodanthe, Dutchess, Max Payne, Rachel Getting Married, or Burn After Reading. I think I'll choose Rachel Getting Married. There is a picture of a plane and a map on the back of the seat in front of me. We are still over the U.S. heading up the eastern shore.

(Saturday 15 hours later...) I'm the second leg of the trip now. I had a good flight to Brussels and arrived there at 7AM. I always forget how hard it is to transfer internationally. United Airlines did not print an actual ticket for my flight out of Brussels so when I went through customs they told me I had to leave the international terminal and go to the ticket counter at the front of the airport. I had to wallk very far to go outside and then back in a long line at the SN Brussels desk- the American Airlines partner. They couldn't find any reservation for me. It was scary for a moment. But I stayed persistent and asked for a supervisor, etc. I explained 2 or 3 times that I flew United and was switching to American Airlines (complicated by the fact that I was at the SN Brussels desk because they are the carrier...) Eventually they called United and it got sorted out and they found the ticket. whew. As it turned out when they talked to United, they learned my bags had been offloaded in Brussels by United. So, I had to walk down to baggage claim and pick out the 5 bags! I guess this is the silver lining, because I would not have learned my bags would not have made it, if I had not had to go out to this airline desk. Unfortunately they also told me that SN Brussels only allows one carryon bag...so they made me check my other one. (NowI have 6 checked bags!! This was particularly stressful to me because my carryon bags were jammed full of expensive electronics and migraine medecine. I watched it go away on the baggage carousel with fingers crossed that I would see it again soon!

My layover in Brussels was from 7AM-10AM. I wondered around the International terminal looking at the duty free things. I was reminded of how Belgium is an english speaking country but I think french is the preferred language. There is a little hint of annoyance when you ask people to speak english (airport personnel and store clerks). I wasn't brave enough to break out the french yet., but will have to soon. I am always a little shy at first- the accent is so hard. I
stopped at a cafe and bought a "jambon and fromage" (hame and cheese) baguette for 4 euros and a coke light (diet coke) for 2 euros. That was an expensive snack!

Every time I wake up from napping on the second flight (7.5 hours long!) I spend time watching a Rwandan woman accross the aisle from me with her 1 year old little boy. This flight is full, so she has to hold him in her lap the whole time. Besides the fact that the baby boy is adorable, smily, bright eyed, and very active...I am struck by how "universal" her mothering is. She is speaking french while singing lullaby's to him, keeping him from chewing on the seatbelts, giving him high "fives", waving at him, and pretending to be a train when feeding him. There is something so heartwarming to see universal human behavior. Part of my reaction is feeling validated that everyone should be themselves, especially in uncomfortable scenarious like traveling in a new country or being in a new setting with no one speaking your language...it's calming and amazing to be reminded that we are all human and much of who we are is natural and shared regardless of place or language.

Other random thoughts on the plane:
-the food on planes is BAD. Wish I'd packed some granola bars in my carryon bag.
-it's cold on planes! Wish I'd put a jacket in my bag too. I've had to sneak 3 airline blankets to stay warm. brrr.
Wait!...SN Brussels just handed out swirled chocolate and vanilla ice cream cups and warm hand towels. What was I saying about bad food on planes? All is forgiven. haha

(Saturday 8:30pm, arrived in Kigali...) Our CDC driver Syla picked me and my six large bags- which all arrived thankfully, up at the airport. Syla told me Kigali has been waiting anxiously for my return. :) He took me to my apartment- in the same building as the last time I was here for 3 months. It is a slightly bigger one-bedroom- with a full size kitchen this time. It is furnished with a TV with cable, microwave, and much of the kitchen stuff and linens that I will need. I mailed about 10 boxes too- so once I have that stuff it will look more like home. Daniel came over and brought me welcome goodies including toilet paper, paper towel, bottled water and snacks. So nice!! I totally forgot those were the essential things I needed upon arrival. We are off to go out with friends tonight- Daniel is leaving Rwanda again and I am filling in for him again. He needs shoulder surgery which will take 6 months, so this is his last weekend in Kigali. I am tired from traveling...but how can I pass up a last weekend night out with Daniel before he goes?! It will be great to catch up with friends tonight too. Packing and resting can wait until tomorrow...