Anne Frank Project in Rwanda
  • Home
  • Rwanda Blog
    • Rwanda 2020
    • Rwanda 2019
    • Rwanda 2018
  • About

Lucas Colon

30 Hours of Travel

6/3/2019

2 Comments

 
Ever wondered what 30 continuous hours of travel feels like? It turns out I have a ton of time to document it when not connected to wi-fi, SO:

HOUR 1: June 1st, 5:30AM EST
It’s here! After probably two hours of sleep I have arrived at my pre-departure location: Buffalo State campus. The delegation is carpooling to the Toronto airport, where we will all fly as a group to Africa. there are a LOT of backpacks and suitcases in the lineup outside the bus. I am ready. I am rested (kinda). I am hungry for adventure. I am noticing that the zipper on my backpack keeps getting stuck (likely due to my nervous fidgeting with it).

HOUR 2: June 1st, 6:30AM EST
We’re begun driving out to Toronto. Honestly, it's kinda boring. i tell myself to get used to the boredom, to help prepare for the long haul flight. I find myself reacting with childish glee over the smallest things - driving past Fantasy Island, the sun rising out the window... I make a pact to myself (the first of several on this trip): I will not be an annoying seat mate, I will not be an annoying seat mate. I can’t resist being annoying one last time before departure, though; I send annoyingly funny texts to my siblings before losing service in Canada. I briefly reflect on the humor that my last text message sent before 17 days of travel is of Detective Pikachu dancing.

HOUR 3: June 1st, 7:30AM EST
At the airport. We made pretty good time, without any serious issues at the border. Doug, our driver, hands off our luggage and says goodbye. I take note of his name. I want to remember the names of all the kind helpers on my trip, and Doug is the first.

HOUR 4: June 1st, 8:30AM EST
Cleared security pretty quickly. The flight doesn’t leave until just past 11, so we’ve got some time. I consider doing some shopping, but quickly stop after breakfast costs me over $20 (even with exchange rates…). Granted, it is delicious (Garam Masala spiced eggs and potatoes), but I need to conserve my money for the trip, not the airport. As I walk through the terminals, I take note of the plane. It’s an Ethiopian Airlines Dreamliner - one of the most technologically advanced and comfortable planes in the world. I’ve flown one once before, and am quite eager to do so again.

HOUR 5: June 1st, 9:30AM EST
A game of Uno has broken out amongst our group in the terminal. Two children who will also be on the flight have joined in. It’s intense. I lose by a wide margin.

HOUR 6: June 1st, 10:30AM EST
WE’RE BOARDING WE’RE BOARDING!! I was lucky to be booked in a bulkhead row - TONS of legroom. I’m seated between Drew and Molly (for 13 hours…yay…). I joke with myself that this could mean one of two things: I’m being placed in a position of respect alongside the two chaperones, or I’m not considered trustworthy at all and need to be constantly watched. I settle with the former.

HOUR 7: June 1st, 11:30AM EST
WE’RE DEPARTING WE’RE DEPARTING!! Takeoff is nearly silent. I make a pact to not watch any movies on the flight, just to see if I can. There are more children than average on this flight, and they are not shy about exercising their voices. I’m very happy I have my large, industrial, over-the-head ear protection.

HOUR 8: June 1st, 12:30PM EST
Drew has miraculously fallen asleep before takeoff and not woken up since. I’m incredibly jealous. I’m sure i look ridiculous - I have over the head ear protection on my head (headphones underneath, because why the not), eye shades from the amenity kit (they turn everything a light shade of gold) a neck pillow that’s comfortable but restrictive, a flimsy airline pillow and blanket for seat support (probably giving me sciatica), and a baseball cap that’s smushed on my face from everything else around it. Is it a wonder why I can’t sleep?

HOUR 9: June 1st, 1:30PM EST
SLEEP HAPPENED. SLEEP IS A GLORIOUS THING.

HOUR 10: June 1st, 6:30AM EST
CONTINUED TO SLEEP.

HOUR 11: June 1st, 6:30AM EST
Woke up. I honestly believe that my body got bored of sleeping. I decide to watch an hour pass without doing anything. It’s an interesting experience. I may blog about it later.

HOUR 12: June 1st, time irrelevant
I’m going a bit stir-crazy. What else can there possibly be to do on a plane??? I’ve stared at the lovely bulkhead wall in front of me for the past 30 minutes. it’s a creamy off-gray color. there are three holes in it to hold a bassinet if necessary. There’s a TV monitor that I'm too awkwardly placed to view properly. I stare, desperately hoping to notice something new. it’s a staring contest. the bulkhead wall wins.

HOUR 13: June 1st, time irrelevant
I caved and watched Interstellar. It’s a 3-hour movie. Yee-haw.

HOUR 14: June 1st, time irrelevant
Interstellar is still going on.

HOUR 15: June 1st, time irrelevant
Interstellar is STILL going on.

HOUR 16: June 1st, time irrelevant
Interstellar has ended. Verdict: Pretty good!

I’m still bored. I randomly pick another movie to watch. This one is Jim Carrey’s Yes Man. Rotten Tomatoes score: 46%.

HOUR 17: June 1st, time irrelevant
Movie over. Verdict: Pretty good! (note to self - to increase enjoyment of movies in general, watch them on a 13-hour flight). 

On an unrelated note, my compression socks feel like they have begun to merge with my skin.

HOUR 18: June 1st, time irrelevant
The flight attendants keep feeding us. I’m not picky about quality (honestly, it was pretty good) but I've never been given so much items on a flight before. They aren't stingy at all!!

HOUR 19: June 1st, time irrelevant
aAAaghhh. I have to pee SO BAD. i made the mistake of chugging an entire bottle of water about 45 minutes ago, once I realized that I was showing signs of dehydration. Unfortunately, we’ve just been cleared for final descent, landing in an HOUR. why……?

HOUR 20: June 2nd, 7:30AM
We've landed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Despite this aircraft holding close to 300 people, we deplane outside on steps, and take a bus ride to the terminal. Everyone is so friendly. I have never been so hyper-aware of restroom locations in my life, but luckily they are plentiful.

HOUR 21: June 2nd, 8:30 AM
For the main airline hub in Africa, Bole International Airport (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) has fairly small terminals. Not that I’m complaining. I do a few laps. I buy coffee (but DON’T drink it before the next flight). I buy water, and remind myself not to drink the entire thing in one go.

HOUR 22: June 2nd, 9:30 AM
Still waiting on that next layover. I’ve been informed that our flight has been cancelled, and replaced with another that has the same location, but a secondary stop. At this point I’m so tired I’m kind of indifferent to this change.

HOUR 23: June 2nd, 10:30 AM
We go through security and sit down to wait again. I forgot that only 3 oz of water are allowed and I chug my whole bottle again (not smart…). I think about how bad of a decision that was for a whole hour.

HOUR 24: June 2nd, 11:30 AM
We board the flight. Not only are our destinations different again (stopover in Bujumbura, Burundi instead of Entebbe, Uganda before Kigali, Rwanda), but our aircraft is different. Even on a short-haul flight, Ethiopian provided another Dreamliner. I can’t believe my luck!!

HOUR 25: June 2nd, 12:30 PM
We’re in the air again. Honestly, this is starting to feel pretty routine, the flight is barely two hours long.

HOUR 26: June 2nd, 1:30 PM
We are served a full sized meal. I’ve never experienced this on a short-haul flight before! The service is simply outstanding.

HOUR 27: June 2nd, 2:30 PM
We’ve landed in Burundi, and the majority of passengers have disembarked. It’s very pretty! The airport is surrounded with fields, and a light breeze flows through the open plane doors. The passengers destined for Rwanda begin to board.

HOUR 28: June 2nd, 3:30 PM
We’re still on the ground in Burundi. The plane feels pretty empty, honestly. There are many empty chairs, particularly towards the front of the plane.

HOUR 29: June 2nd, 4:30 PM
I MADE IT TO RWANDA ON JUST A 1/2 HOUR FLIGHT!!

HOUR 30: June 2nd, 5:30 PM
Whirlwind of activity once we arrived. Cleared customs, got shiny visas, got checked baggage with no issues, rode to guest house, and wrote this blog.

SLEEP IS NEAR

:)
2 Comments
Madeline Anderson-Balmer
6/4/2019 07:42:48 am

You and Aunt Beth will have to share stories of long flughts. She's headed to India again soon. Glad you arrived safe, and yaaay for movies. They help me sleep on flights. Looking forward to more pics and updates!

Reply
Carol Beckley
6/4/2019 09:36:47 am

journey Lucas!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    About Lucas

    I am traveling to Rwanda with the intent of a sponge - I want to absorb as many unique experiences as I possibly can, and bring them back to share with my culture. I am a multifaceted artist, and Rwanda is a treasure trove of valuable experiences to draw inspiration from. As a visual artist, I look forward to seeing unique handmade art, and letting it inspire an artistic vision. As a musician, I look forward to hearing vastly different than what I’m used to, and letting that inspire music from my soul. And as a teacher, I’m looking to see teaching methods different than what I have known. I want to bring these gifts back and share them with my culture. 

    Archives

    June 2019
    May 2019

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Rwanda Blog
    • Rwanda 2020
    • Rwanda 2019
    • Rwanda 2018
  • About