My Kenyan Odyssey, Day 20 (and last): The End

[thatcrazycajun]

Home again at long, long last (well, my primary home, anyhow, for the moment at least; I now truly feel I have a second home some 4,000 miles away), fed and cleaned up. Ari the Humongous Orange Tabby™ seems glad to see me and is yowling at me piteously about being left alone for so long with no one to play with but the pet-sitter who came by for half an hour every other day while I was gone. 

Caught the connecting flight out of Schiphol with only a minor frustration at having wasted several Euros on a cup of coffee I never got to drink (they do security inspections at connecting-flight gates there, and apparently "no liquids" means absolutely, positively NO liquids of any kind whatever at any time, even in an open paper cup). Spent another seven hours on the plane watching the snazzy inflight seat-back entertainment system—playing Tetris, listening to music, watching episodes of the old Mission: Impossible and The Incredible Hulk series (the latter with an incredibly young and brunette Kim Cattrall—yes, that man-eating blonde cougar Samantha from Sex and the City—in a guest role), enjoying the ingeniously compartmentalized, haute-cuisine meals served (two per flight!) and trying hard not to cough all over my seatmates.

Got into Atlanta around 3:30 pm local time; having left Nairobi at 9:50 PM local time yesterday (2:50 Atlanta time), this meant I was actually in transit for about 25 hours and change, counting the several-hour layover in Amsterdam (which went faster than I thought it would). Then I went through customs processing for US citizen returnees, which apparently is in three separate stages: getting your declaration forms stamped, collecting your bags from an at-gate carousel and then turning them right back in on another carousel for re-entry inspection, plus carry-on screening and metal detector pass-through before they are sent on to the real baggage claim section. This got me finally out at nearly 5 PM. It was my first time returning from a trans-Atlantic trip in over three decades, and I get that since 9/11 they have to be more careful, but geezam crickets...just when you think you've jumped through all the hurdles, they present you with still another one.

sffilk had to beg off picking me up due to illness, so I schlepped back into town from Hartsfield-Jackson the same way I went out 2.5 weeks ago, via MARTA rail and cab which got me home by 6:30. Called the Songbird and let her know I was home safe, she having gone to bed already (it was 1:30 AM there). Promptly had to go right back out and get cough drops and syrup for the bronchitis, since there was absolutely no medication for coughs in the house; took the chance to eat a quick and simple dinner at Wendy's and do a couple other errands before settling down at home for a nice, long bath and rest.

So what have I learned from this long, complicated trip?

• I love my Songbird more than ever for being willing to undergo the hazards and hindrances of life far, far away from home and family in an emerging nation for the sake of helping stop the horrific scourge that is the sub-Saharan AIDS/HIV pandemic. I shall never, ever take the precious few hours we have together in the same place for granted again.
• She works with some truly decent and dedicated people, both American and Kenyan. I salute them, one and all (yes, even Becky!).
• I have a better idea of what it would take to live over there comfortably, for me at least. We may well have to finally quit putting off the "get married or not?" decision in order to make it work, but at least I know it is at least potentially doable.
• Even if I don't end up living with SB there, I at least am much better prepared for my next visit. (Note to self: stock up on vitamin C tablets or some such before lowering your resistance to bronchial infections with a 25-hour dual-flight plane trip!)
• I have to work harder at not judging cultures and nations with less resources and different values by the standards of my own. You'd think a guy weaned on Star Trek's Prime Directive and IDIC would freaking know better...
• And finally, if you're gonna travel anywhere by air to Europe or Africa, KLM is definitely the way to go! In addition to those meals and the entertainment system, there are free candy bars and drinks in the galley at all times, hot moist napkins doled out to freshen up and generally attentive, friendly service from the flight attendants. And Schiphol is the standard-setter for layover airports, with its one-building terminal concept and beaucoup shopping and amenities. (Never did find those showers, though...)

This ends the Kenyan Odyssey series. I hope you all enjoyed my account and that there wasn't too much detail for your tolerance. Thanks to the Songbird for making me feel so welcome; to each and every one of you who posted and read through the whole time; and to all the staff of various airlines, hotels, restaurants and other establishments all along the way who worked to make my trip more pleasant. Here's to next year....

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

*smile* I know a little of your cost of devotion; I just drove six hours each way to see someone I love... (well, it turned out to be more complex than that, but...) but, yeah, if you've traveled twenty-five hours each way to see your beloved and you love her even more than when you left? Dude. I think you have an appointment with a jeweler in your future. And, frankly, it does my heart good to see it.

[sffilk.livejournal.com]

Again, 1000 apologies for not picking you up at the airport. I'm still suffering with major dizziness, and may end up going to see my regular doctor if things do not improve.

[mshollie.livejournal.com]

I gave up on LDRs (long distance relationships) a long time ago when my last ex- nearly forced me to move to San Diego. I stayed put here in NOLA and have never regretted my decision.

Besides, infrogmation and I keep coming back to each other. It's been 18 good years, on and off, and we have absolutely no intention of getting married. We must be doing something right.

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

25 plus hours? good freaking god... that must be love. :) I don't believe I could do that, still. I hope you feel very much better, very soon. (We're debating whether to have an election night party as well as/instead of the movie night, so that would be Tuesday vs/as well as Thursday. You're one of the most reliable attendees - do you have any input you'd like to put towards this? Can't promise, but I'd like to know.)

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan to me; I'll come, either night.

[crowatdusk.livejournal.com]

Will there still be pics?

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Yes, there will be pics. Uploading in progress; will post here when enough are online.