Well, "long" for starters.
We had heard that the return flight from Johannesburg was much harder than the trip there.
On the flight over, you go to sleep and wake up to the sun and morning. It's much easier to lose nine hours this way. Even though I say I had an easy time of it, I did wake up in Cape Town the next morning, promptly put both contact lenses in my right eye and ran to wake Fred, exclaiming that "I can't see in Africa!"
The biggest difference in the flight home is that we will be flying into the night. All night, and all the next day-darkness. You look at your watch and see that it is 3:00, but you honestly don't know if it is 3:00 AM or PM. It all looks the same. I couldn't remember if I had put my watch ahead to Washington, D.C. or Los Angeles.
We had been warned that the hardest part of the flight from Johannesburg was that it is NOT a non-stop back to Washington, D.C. Due to the tradewinds, it is not possible to fly directly back. So, we will fly to Dakkar, Africa. That's right, we'll land after 12 hours and we'll still be in Africa. We won't be able to get off of the plane. But we will be awakened, told to gather our carry on items, and put them on our lap.
At first, I didn't believe the person who told me that. But it happened exactly that way. In the middle of the night, we were awakened, and told to put all our carry-on items in our lap. Security then comes aboard and thoroughly goes over every seat of the people who have disembarked here. I mean, thoroughly. They rip out the headrests, and rip up the seat cushions.
Security became concerned when no one claimed a carry-on suitcase in our overhead compartment. They asked several times, "Whose bag is this?"
Finally, Fred woke up enough to see that it was ours and claimed it.
Crisis averted.
Finally, the crew comes onboard and sprays the plane with insecticide. That's right, we're still on it. Thankfully, I had brought masks for Fred and myself. This entire time, the loudspeaker on the plane is apologizing for the insecticide and is sorry if it gets into your eyes and burns them. Ugh, an agonizing hour and a half stop over.
We take off again for another six hours over the Atlantic ocean. We take something to sleep and we are finally out.
We land about 9am in Washington, D.C., and it's time for serious security. There's a young girl sitting behind us on the plane from South Africa. She's on her way to San Francisco, and isn't feeling too well, and she's not sure which tram to take. We tell her to stay with us.
As usual, we have to pick up our luggage at baggage claim, and then immediately check it again. W.D.C. has this down to a science, and soon we are on our way to security. The young South African woman becomes concerned when she sees us Americans starting to disrobe. "I'm not taking anything off!" she declares.
We told her that she'll take off whatever security asks her to take off and do it with a smile on her face.
Ahhh, it's good to be home!
I have a small piece of Bonine travel medication in some tinfoil in my cargo pocket by my knee, which is setting off the alarm. I'm pretty much down to my underwear before we figure this out.
In the customs line, we hear the woman in front of us say she had been on a luxury safari in Tanzania. She loved it but they never saw any elephants. No elephants! We stopped taking their picture, we saw so many elephants. The customs officer tells us, "Welcome Home" and it sounds so good, I could cry. One more six hour flight to go.
No first class for Fred. Now Fred, who will tell you he is a terrific traveler, can't continue sitting by the window. He squirms, he adjusts, he fidgets, he "CAN'T SIT IN THESE SEATS!"
So he makes me switch with him. I know, the urge to watch him suffer was pretty great, but six hours of non-stop whining will wear down anyone.
I take the window seat and happily watch as we fly over the Grand Canyon. It's so gorgeous, and I'm so tired, but feeling so grateful and happy. To those people who criticize the United States, I recommend that you leave it for awhile. I could have led the plane in singing "Yankee Doodle Dandy."
Soon, we're home, hugging family and dogs.
Jet lag will claim a lot of our waking hours the next week, but we're excited to tell everyone about our amazing adventures.
I am in awe of people like the Reverend Orma, who sees a need and fills it.
We are indebted to our family, friends and co-workers who helped to sponsor our trip, the building fund and the children at the Care Points. One of the Care Points will be getting a new refrigerator/freezer thanks to your generous donations.
We are also forever changed.
Yesterday, the King of Swaziland made the gathering of civil rights groups illegal. Apparently, tired of the protesters who criticize him; he has silenced them.
The people of Swaziland cannot speak, but the numbers about Swaziland speak for themselves.
39% have HIV or AIDS. 40% are unemployed. 70% live on one dollar a day. The life expectancy is now 31. By 2010, it is expected to be 27 years of age. 56,000 children have been orphaned by AIDS. Last year, AIDS claimed the lives of 10,000 adults and children.
We see Reverend Orma making a huge difference in the children's lives.
Someday, we hope these children will make a big difference in their country.
I hope this blog helps to give a small feeling of what we experienced.
To all who are reading this, thank you. It was written with a grateful heart.
Jeri
TO BE CONTINUED...perhaps another day...hopefully another trip
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