Well, as promised, I would write when I got here. My journey started at the Columbus Airport on Wednesday June 11th. Before I took off my family and I had an amazing lunch at one of my favorite chain restaurants, Mimi's Cafe. Yes, I say chain because I do not like many of them :).. Anyways, the check-in was so easy and took much less time then we expected. I checked 5 bags, yes 5... each weighting the maximum of 52 pounds... that takes talent.... I know. We stood around and talked for about a hour before I took off into the TSA line and then onto my gate. My first flight was to Atlanta so about a blink away on a plane. The passengers next to me were both males wearing a polo that was the the same shade of purple. The first one had a school insignia on the shirt and next comes the second guy with the same color polo (no embroidery). As he got settled, I starting making conversation and found out that they did not know each other. Me wearing an all black shirt, joking said "Well I guess I didnt get the memo" and from than on we all talked the whole time. I love talking to strangers on an airplane because everyone has a reason or story to be on one. And thinking that they were placed on that plane in that specific seat for a reason is cool to me. As I read this again, I do not talk to all strangers, I am not that creepy person in an elevator.. if it seems like you want to engage in conversation, I will! Well it's safe is say, Atlanta treated me very well. I had a 4 hour layover in Atlanta's airport, which was not terrible because there was so much to do. I got something to eat and looked around in the shops. For the readers that know me, I love shopping and a good bite to eat.. so that 4 hours went by surprisingly fast. I boarded the plane to Dubai and observed everyone who was walking by me. I always wonder why people are going somewhere and if they have been there, what do I absolutely have to see. The first leg of the trip I read Tina Fey's Bossypants... it is an amazing book if you are looking for a fun summer read, I suggest it. I was taking the red eye so when the plane took off it was around 10:30ish. The whole time in the air I tried not to look at the clock because it is not like you can make the 14 hours go faster. I did a good job until about the last 2 hours and I starting getting antsy. On the plane I watched about 3 movies and about 6 episodes of Castle. The food was OK. I mean what can you expect from a plane, not amazing but edible. I told myself I would not drink alcohol on the plane because my luck I would get sick or not aware in the airport. Now onto the airport. That is the one thing on the plane I was worried about. Where do I go to find my luggage? Did I forget anything for customs? How the heck am I going to carry 5 bags! I shouldn't have under estimated myself. I looked like a pro and people were asking me if I lived here because they didn't know where to find taxis, hotels, etc. I thank my parents for taking my brother and I with them to conferences when we were younger... that really helped me get through the night with ease. (Oh ya I got into Dubai on Thursday around 8:30pm) The plan originally was for our family friend's to pick me up at the airport. Well, things happen and their driver couldn't. In Dubai, they have pink taxi's for women because the drivers are women... just for safety reasons. Which I absolutely love. I will take a picture of the next pink taxi and post it! The taxi was meant for a family of 5, but since I packed for a family of 10 pretty much-- I took the pink mini van! The next portion I was scared of was how to tell the driver where I was going since I didn't know where I was going, except for the address/landmarks that the family told me. I told the driver this and she was confused but low and behold and 100 AED later.... I arrived safe and sound. The evening was nice. I had some wine and relaxed. I am staying in their daughter Sophia's room which is everything a little girl could want. Pink and butterflies, games, dolls, etc... Heck I wanted to bust out some of these games with her last night! The view from my window is a nice pool! I will post an album of pictures once I have them! Well onto my first week in Dubai. I will try and write at least once a week.
-Christina
