Have you ever been on a trip where everything runs smoothly, according to plan? Where you’re comfortable the whole time, and the journey to your final destination almost overshadows your trip because of its seamless execution?
Me Neither.
For starters I have been feeling quite under the weather for the past few days. Under normal circumstances I would be filled to the brim with NyQuil, and lost under my comforter until I felt better. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to do that. There has been packing, and pre-flight preparation. So instead I have spent the past 10 or so hours sleeping sitting up on a very crowded plane, next to people who have no respect for personal space.
In retrospect this will all be humorous, as for now it’s nothing but frustratingly miserable.
I do have someone to thank for the uneven start to my trip, and I’d just feel awful if I didn’t take the time to give credit where credit is due.
Cheapoair.com: This thank you goes to the brainless monkey who decided to mark my ticket as a direct flight from Orlando to Paris, FAILING TO MENTION that I would have to stop in Philadelphia for 3 hours. THAT is NOT a direct flight. Also, thank you for entering my first name into the computer as “Amissashley Sather”, making me just that much more difficult to locate. Upon my return, you will be receiving many phone calls from a customer that is the very definition of the word, “disgruntled.”
As frustrated as I became with said booking site, there has never been anyone more completely annoying than, “The Guy Who Sat Next to Me.” He started out by saying, “Don’t worry about me, ‘ll be asleep in about 20 minutes.”
LIAR. You sir, are the antithesis of what a good traveler should be.
It is perfectly fine to try and initiate conversation with your flight mate early on, but if they drop subtle hints like, “I’m going to sleep the whole way there” or “I’m ready to just zone out for a while”, RESPECT THAT. It is not an open invitation for you to observe and comment on their actions for the next seven hours. Also, you are allotted ONE seat, do not invade the personal space of the person sitting next to you. I do not know you sir, nor do I like you very much. Elbows down, legs closed. Do not look to see what movie I am watching, do not comment on it if you do see it. Do not tell me that my coffee is bad for me while you stuff your face with a donut. Do not comment on the fact that there is no view of Paris from 30,000 feet, do not comment on the lack of trees when you do see Paris. When someone asks you if you speak French, DO NOT respond by saying, “Heck, I barely speak English”-you have just embarrassed your country. This man should be banned from all flights international or otherwise.
Let’s keep him in North Carolina where he belongs.
On a lighter note, I did eventually tune him out. I’m now sitting in Charles De Gaul Airport, and am feeling completely out of place. For one, I have never encountered a more confusing airport. The language barrier gives you that “fish out of water” feeling, and you hope that those French lessons you were semi-awake for will help you at all for the three hours you will spend here.
It makes me a tad nervous to get to Athens. I certainly speak more French than I do Greek...which is less than comforting. I’m ready to get a full nights sleep in a warm bed though. Maybe I’ll skip meeting anyone tonight so I can hopefully dump this cold and make a healthy first impression.
Time to fly.
peace, from a French catastrophe
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