Oh to be that girl wandering, wandering, continuously
wandering. In airports and train stations, down the streets and sidewalks of
that far-off, unnamed city. With a sort of effortless but purposeful glide to the way she walks. Slightly bohemian, but utterly
classic at the same time.
Haha. I’ve seen this vision of this girl in countless places
in all my travels. And a small part of me always aspires to me like her.
And then it hit me. Maybe…maybe a small part of me is like
her already?
I certainly feel like the endless wanderer at this point. I
am in my 4th airport so far of this monstrous trip home. I’m sitting
at London’s Heathrow airport doing what I do best - people watching! And I’m
reflecting on my absolute love of airports and the different kind of people you
find in them.
So far each of my journeys have been via Qatar Airways – a
first for me. And I must say, they have been phenomenal! And the constant
Arabic language that has surrounded me since the moment of takeoff was a
welcome breath of fresh air. To see it written everywhere, to hear it read over
the loudspeakers, and to hear my fellow passengers conversing. And landing in
Doha, even though I’ve never been there before in my life was like
coming home. I felt the same giddy sense
of relief I feel when flying in to land in Chicago.
It’s funny how life works hey? It’s funny how, by a random
coincidence, my flight back to the U.S. took me to the Middle East first. And
that random coincidence forced some very sudden realizations on my part. The
last however many hours have jolted me in to remembering…and reflecting. (And realizing
how rusty my Arabic has become! Yikes!)
Anyway, I don’t particularly know that these musings have a
point just yet. But I thought I’d share them with you all anyways. (And let’s
be honest, I am running out of things to do as I still have 2.5 hours left of
this particular layover haha).
BUT some further highlights of the trip thus far: Qatar
Airways has an insane in-flight movie catalog. Like literally hundreds.
Including all the Harry Potter movies! And classics! (I definitely watched a
little Breakfast at Tiffany’s! AND then I spent a good half hour at the Tiffany
& Co. store in Heathrow haha. Trying to find my inner Holly Golightly I
suppose!).
Also, as if I need to be keeping score, I’ve had 3 (yes
THREE) different airline officials/immigration personnel comment on my smile so
far. Haha apparently I should smile more often? Because it sure is getting me
lots of compliments!
OH and Qatar Airways uses real cutlery on their flights!
Like a proper knife with your dinner! How crazy is that?! When we are not even
allowed to take nail clippers on board? Haha made me giggle.
The next leg of my journey is with an American airline (I
won’t name names here) and I am somewhat sad to say goodbye to stellar service
and actually getting my money’s worth.
Ah well. Soon (well not too soon, I still have a good 12 hours to go!) But soon
I will be landing in Chicago and I’ll get to spend some time with my very
favorite people in the WHOLE world. (And my very favorite cat!).
I can’t wait. I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.
Forgive my tangents and my randomness! And I’ll see you all
on the other side of the Atlantic!
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