Hour 0 (10:30am Central Time Zone)
Our African contingent loads our caravan, snaps a few
pictures, sings, and waves goodbye to our well-wishers. Now we go!
Hour 1 (11:30am Central Time Zone)
After a scenic drive through Northeast Iowa, our African
group accomplishes our first goal. Invade Wisconsin.
Hour 2 (12:30pm Central Time Zone)
Clearly, we’re hungry already. Nom nom nom at Einstein
Bagels. (You’re welcome for the free publicity Einstein people!)
Hour 3 (1:30pm Central Time Zone)
Approaching our first toll. Illinois is going to make bank
on us.
Hour 4 (2:30pm Central Time Zone)
Who’s getting tired of driving? This guy.
Hour 5 (3:30pm Central Time Zone)
Our African group reaches O’Hare International Airport, and
unloads a borderline obscene amount of luggage. Apparently 25 laptops, 50
graphing calculators, 12 soccer balls, 40 Braille books, a bunch of pre-school
toys, a library filing system, Luther college memorabilia, and three weeks of
personal stuff for 12 people takes 41 pieces of luggage. Who knew?
Hour 6 (4:30pm Central Time Zone)
We get the vehicles parked, and check-in with British
Airways. For some reason I’ve always found checking bags and getting boarding
passes with large groups to be intimidating even though they end up being
fairly smooth. So, after I’ve unnecessarily raised my blood pressure…its time
for a cocktail. J
Hour 7 (5:30pm Central Time Zone)
Our group found a nice corner in an airport bar, and I can
already tell we’re all going to get along just fine. Cheers everyone!
Hour 8 (6:30pm Central Time Zone)
Its airport security time, and I’ll need to do a bit of
explaining here. A vast majority of all the materials we were toting went into
our checked bags, except for those bulky laptop computers and calculators. To
ensure those more expensive items made the journey safely we decided they
needed to go into our carry on luggage. If you’ve ever taken a laptop through
airport security before you’ll know that each laptop needs to be in a separate
bin when sending it through the scanner. Well…I brought 5 laptops through
security. Is that a record?
It ended up that Ann (carrying 4 laptops) my mom (also
carrying 4 laptops) and myself were all in succession in the same line. That’s
13 bins for computers alone. The people behind us deserve medals.
I also experienced my first body scan (they don’t give you a
copy) and pat down. Apparently sending 5 computers through security looks
suspicious.
Hour 9 (7:30pm Central Time Zone)
This was our last hour on the ground in America. Everyone
took time for final phone calls to friends and loved ones, and going to the
bathroom as much as possible.
Hour 10 (8:30pm Central Time Zone)
We board. We go.
Hour 11 (No idea of the time anymore, my watch broke)
The kind British Airways flight attendant brought me a
whiskey along with a nice pasta dinner. God save the Queen.
Hour 12 (Approaching the Atlantic Ocean)
Attempted sleep. It didn’t go well.
Hour 13 (Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean)
I chatted with a pleasant British businessman while the rest
of the plane seemed to be sleeping. He worked for an electronic company, and
was great to talk to. He was very intrigued about our project!
Hour 14 (Somewhere farther over the Atlantic)
Attempted sleep again. Same result. Humans just aren’t meant
to sleep in an upright position.
Hour 15 and 16 (Still over the Atlantic, but an island
appears in the distance)
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows occupies my time. I’m
definitely getting fatigued with lack of sleep and being uncomfortable.
Hour 17 (9:00am GMT)
We made it to the last leg of our 7-hour flight across the
pond. A spot of tea helps me get going a little, but I am dragging. This could
get rough.
Hour 18 (10:00am GMT)
We hit the tarmac, and prepare to disembark. As I’m getting
my carry-on luggage from the over-head compartment, a flight attendant saw me
struggling with the weight (5 computers gets pretty heavy). She asked how my
bag got so heavy, and I told her that I was transporting computers (among other
things) to Namibia. I then discovered that she works at an orphanage in Uganda
every year. People are so cool. J
Hour 19 (11:00am GMT)
Its London time! We have about a 10-hour layover, and the
plan is to take London by storm for a few hours. We quickly find a place to
store our luggage, and then purchase tickets for the Underground Tube.
Hour 20 (12:00pm GMT)
At first I tried to take as much of London in as I could
through the window on the train. However, the constant motion and warm
temperature soon reminded me how tired I was. I’m not meant to operate on an
hour of sleep. Wake me up when we hit downtown.
Hour 21 (1:00pm GMT)
Its lunch time when we step off the train, and seeing as
I’ve never been in London (other than the airport) I feel like I need to have
some fish and chips with a beer. So, that’s exactly what I do. J
It was so much fun to sit outside a pub on some patio furniture and watch all
sorts of people walk by.
Hour 22 (2:00pm GMT)
We had a little more than an hour until we needed to take
the Tube back to Heathrow terminal, so with camera in hand I went nuts. Trafalgar
Square, Big Ben, Westminster Abby, House of Commons, and the Tower of London
all had to be captured. I got to as much as I could, but I obviously need to
spend some time here later in life.
Hour 23 (3:00pm GMT)
Back on the train. Back asleep. Somebody wake me up when we
get there. Apparently sleeping upright is no longer an obstacle for me. I’m so
adaptable!
Hour 24 (4:00pm GMT)
We all made it back to the airport, and it was time to gear
up for another run at getting through airport security. I had far less people
behind me as I went through. However, the agent did say, “You sure do have a lot
of computers, mate.” J
Cheers England.
Hours 25 and 26 (5:00-7:00pm GMT)
The only eventful item I did while waiting for our flight to
depart was replace my “new” watch that broke during my first flight (thanks
Wal-Mart). I ended up deciding on a $30 silver Sekonda watch, which seems to be
doing its job well enough so far.
I also brushed my teeth for the first time. Gross. Are we
there yet?
Hour 27 (7:00pm GMT)
Peace out England. Next stop, Johannesburg, South Africa.
(In 12 hours, woof).
Hour 28 (I’m not aware of time when flying anymore. I'm just aware of the countdown until I can leave the plane. 11 hours left).
The flight attendants come around with the first round of
liquid refreshments. They’re being very generous with the adult beverages. I’m
assuming they’ve had experience with passengers on these long flights.
Well-played British Airways.
Hour 29 (10 hours left)
Now when it comes to airline food, I really think British
Airways does a nice job. However, when I’m on my 3rd airline meal in
less than 24 hours, I can only get so excited.
Hour 30-36 (9-4 hours left)
Tylenol PM is brilliant. Tylenol PM coupled with an adult
beverage is double the brilliance. I slept for just under 6 solid hours. It was
glorious until I woke up with a neck stiffer than a giraffe in a cave. Let this
end soon please?
Hour 37-38 (4-2 hours left)
I watched the movie Safe House on the entertainment screen
in front of me. I do love me some Denzel, but not so much Chris Reynolds. I’d
give it a solid 3 stars (out of 5).
Hour 39 (2 hours left)
Its time for my fourth airline meal, which is probably 3
more than any person, should have in 39 hours. It was still fairly good given
the standards I have for airline food, but everyone once in a while I need
something cooked over an open flame. I’m just saying.
Hour 40 (1 hour left) (with this flight at least)
I learned from my captain that it was 5:45am Standard South
African Time as we began our gradual descent. I was lucky enough to be sitting
in a window seat facing East. It was truly one of the most spectacular sunrises
I’ve ever seen. The horizon just seemed to go on forever with a soft golden
glow. It made up for the 12-hour flight (for the most part).
Hour 41-46 (7:00am-12:00pm Standard South African Time)
These five hours included customs, our final security check,
coffee, and finishing up this blog post while sitting in Johannesburg’s
airport. Thanks for even making it this far! I know its long one.
Hour 47-48 (12:00pm Standard South African Time)
We board our last plane. Thankfully its only a two hour
flight from Johannesburg, SA to Windhoek, Namibia. Seeing as this flight is
over the lunch hour I had my 5th airline meal in 48 hours. That’s
more than enough for a while.
Hour 49 (1:00pm GMT)
Walking off that final plane and seeing my surroundings made
the past 50 hours all worth it. Africa (Namibia is particular) is a gorgeous
country. We were greeted by such warm smiles, and I couldn’t have felt any more
welcome. After months of planning this was all real, and really happening. J
It took another two hours to get through customs and to
reach our hotel. Time for a shower! I really smell.
Happy Monday Everybody!
Ethan this is a riot! Thanks for the update. Hugs from Decorah.
ReplyDeleteAW! so excited for you, Eth!!! im looking forward to reading more from you!
ReplyDeleteThe Peters are so glad everyone is in Namibia---safe and sound! We will be checking the blog everyday....passing the Iowa summertime hours wishing we were with you!
ReplyDeleteI know you will enjoy the most gracious people (Namibians) on the planet.
Tim Peter
Hilarious! Best of luck.
ReplyDelete