Over the last 10 years, I can't remember a trip without some sort of drama. Whether getting stuck in a game park in Malawi...or almost dying in a guided tour van in Kenya...or traveling on a rickety ferry with only $100 for a week in a not-so-safe part of Senegal...or showing up to the airport a day late in London...There's never been a dull moment in my world travels. The last day of 2014 was no exception!
The trip started with an early 3 AM ride to the airport for my 6 AM flight. I was early (yes -early!) and had planned to check-in and finish grading. Little did I know that the Air Canada ticket counter doesn't open until 5 AM! I awkwardly sat on my suitcase trying to grade until my computer died...
"But," I told myself, "Stay strong! In 24 hours, I'll be taking in the sites of Addis Ababa and forgetting all about this mishap."
Well, that was somewhat true. Two flights and 27 hours later, I was taking in the sites of the Addis Ababa...Airport - from the Ebola check points to the disorganized Visa line to the luggage carousel where - wait for it - my luggage was no where to be found!
(As an aside, I was SO proud of my packing for this trip. I had one sublimely-packed carry on with my computer, electronics, and a single change of clothes. And, despite my shoe-loving ways, I only checked in one suitcase with my clothes and shoes, gifts for my friend, and New Year's Eve paraphernalia. One single suitcase, and it didn't even make it).
After an emotional three hours of being sent from person to person, we finally located my luggage...in Toronto! I'll fast forward through the details but there may or may not have bee a mini breakdown, followed by an intense lecture from my end. I was told my luggage would hopefully make it a couple of days later (the night before my departure). The airline also gave me a small stipend for incidentals.
As the supervisor passed me on to her subordinate, who passed me on to one of the airport workers to take me to get my stipend, I couldn't think how ridiculous Day 1 had become. My non-English speaking companion managed to communicate to me that I looked tired ("Um, no, I'm angry," I tried to explain, to no avail), and then he proceeded to ask me to share my stipend with him. All I could think was, "Really? You want a thank you for your airline's mishap?"
Oddly enough, after trying to explain that I needed the money for some clothes (I was met with a blank face), I gave up and gave him 50 birr, the equivalent of $2.5. Because the fact is that I realized I was so blessed. I was fortunate to have had a suitcase full of things that could even get lost. I was fortunate that I had a friend who waited nearly four hours for me to come out of the airport, since I didn't have a phone to call her. And although I felt disgusting wearing the same outfit in the 28+ hours that had passed, I was fortunate that I had an extra outfit to wear for my big New Year's Eve out.
"African continent, how I'd almost forgotten you," I thought.
Its response? "WELCOME BACK!"
The trip started with an early 3 AM ride to the airport for my 6 AM flight. I was early (yes -early!) and had planned to check-in and finish grading. Little did I know that the Air Canada ticket counter doesn't open until 5 AM! I awkwardly sat on my suitcase trying to grade until my computer died...
"But," I told myself, "Stay strong! In 24 hours, I'll be taking in the sites of Addis Ababa and forgetting all about this mishap."
Well, that was somewhat true. Two flights and 27 hours later, I was taking in the sites of the Addis Ababa...Airport - from the Ebola check points to the disorganized Visa line to the luggage carousel where - wait for it - my luggage was no where to be found!
(As an aside, I was SO proud of my packing for this trip. I had one sublimely-packed carry on with my computer, electronics, and a single change of clothes. And, despite my shoe-loving ways, I only checked in one suitcase with my clothes and shoes, gifts for my friend, and New Year's Eve paraphernalia. One single suitcase, and it didn't even make it).
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| Last minute purchase to complete my packing! |
After an emotional three hours of being sent from person to person, we finally located my luggage...in Toronto! I'll fast forward through the details but there may or may not have bee a mini breakdown, followed by an intense lecture from my end. I was told my luggage would hopefully make it a couple of days later (the night before my departure). The airline also gave me a small stipend for incidentals.
As the supervisor passed me on to her subordinate, who passed me on to one of the airport workers to take me to get my stipend, I couldn't think how ridiculous Day 1 had become. My non-English speaking companion managed to communicate to me that I looked tired ("Um, no, I'm angry," I tried to explain, to no avail), and then he proceeded to ask me to share my stipend with him. All I could think was, "Really? You want a thank you for your airline's mishap?"
Oddly enough, after trying to explain that I needed the money for some clothes (I was met with a blank face), I gave up and gave him 50 birr, the equivalent of $2.5. Because the fact is that I realized I was so blessed. I was fortunate to have had a suitcase full of things that could even get lost. I was fortunate that I had a friend who waited nearly four hours for me to come out of the airport, since I didn't have a phone to call her. And although I felt disgusting wearing the same outfit in the 28+ hours that had passed, I was fortunate that I had an extra outfit to wear for my big New Year's Eve out.
"African continent, how I'd almost forgotten you," I thought.
Its response? "WELCOME BACK!"
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| First thing I bought with my stipend. |
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