So…it’s way overdue, but I promised I’d explain my fantastic
trip home from Djibouti…
The trip started like any good day in Djibouti. Sweaty. The
sun gave no indications that it was the best day ever in Djibouti. It was still
hot. The day before had been spent packing and there was still one package left
to send. I had planned to stay up super late and start getting adjusted to the
new time zone. I woke up late, ate breakfast and got my last packages to the
post office.
After a spending the day sending goodbye emails, shipping,
cleaning and getting packed; I was ready for the flight home. I had an average
steak-night in Djibouti and sat around 11DN. After a beer it was finally time
to get ready to go sit at JIB for 3 hours.
Security was awesome and I got in quick. I was dying of
thirst and didn’t know what to do. I remembered that I had been given 5 euros
by some random guy for trading seats on the flight to Paris (on the way to
Djbouti). I insisted that it wasn’t necessary, but he said he was grateful and
I needed to have a beer on him. I
thought I would just have a souvenir but it turns out that I would indeed have
a beer on his dime. It just took 6 months to get it. After a beer I made it
through the next part of security and snuck into the first class lounge.
We boarded the plane and I was fortunate enough to get the
seat that the movie screen didn’t work. Great! I swapped seats for the trip to
Jeddah, but had to go back when the plane filled up. I was starting to feel
gross. I assume that it was something from the pizza the day before or
something, but it was not good. They sprayed the plain with ‘non-toxic,
non-harmful to human’ insecticide when leaving Jeddah. By the time I got to
Paris, I was completely miserable. I stopped in the bathroom and instantly knew
that this trip home was not going to be pleasant.
After 3 hours and at least as many trips to the bathroom, it
was back onboard for another 12 hour flight. This flight, however, I was the ‘seat
buddy’ from hell. I probably made 8 trips to the bathroom. It was terrible!
We arrived early and I finally broke the news to Katie. I
was dying (not literally of course). I rode the shuttle to the Embassy for what
was supposed to be an afternoon and evening full of happy hour, BassPro and
BBQ. What we had instead, was TV, bathroom exhaust fans and Katie going on a
trip to get some Pepto Bismo. I think this point, Katie thought I was dying.
The next day, I felt better, though it would take a few days
to get back to normal. I can’t believe that I managed to spend 6 months in
Djibouti without getting some stomach issue, just to arrive back in the US
unable to get more than 20 minutes from a bathroom.
It’s still great to be back! I’ve spent the last couple months spending time with Katie and the kids, fishing, and enjoying the fact that it’s not quite as hot in SC (it’s pretty close this time of the year though). We’ll be attending to the usual Labor Day weekend dove slaughter this year! I’ll try to post more, but no promises.
