So less than an hour into our flight, my seat mate touched my arm and motioned me to look towards the front of the plane. To my surprise through the dim lighting of the cabin I see a passenger turned around in his seat, caught in a head and shoulder lock with the passenger behind him, and the occaisional fist flying. The flight attendants were rushing over and telling them to stop. The lady sitting next to the commotion ducks out of her seat to avoid the scuffle. I look behind the madness occuring 30,000 feet and a stewardess motions to several male passengers to assist. They rush in on the guy standing. Grap him tightly and begin to pull the fight apart. Yelling ensues for another few minutes and then one of the men begins insulting a stewardess with his childish words. I can hear ever so clearly her saying, "You are a grown ass man....you know better than to fight and an airplane."
20 minutes went by and the flight crew scurried around the airplane. The pilot finally came on and said that we would begin emptying fuel and head back to DC to handle the "situation". When we arrive back in Dulles, armed officers come aboard and take the men away. They question some of the other passengers and then take the men's baggages off the plane. Oh, did I mention this is now 2am and almost 3hours after we took off. We were preparing for an additional departure so passengers were going to the facilities and stretching their legs. As I dozed off in my cozy corner of the aircraft, another message from the cockpit informed us that our flight would deboarded and reschedule for 6pm the following evening. Crazy-NESS!
As I was at the back of the plane I took my time getting my belongings together for the journey across Dulles airport at 3am. Walking down the breezeway near me was a single mom with a 3 year old trying to juggle her child on her back, two suitcases and a stroller. I helped her carry her belongings to the baggage area. She was on her way to Lagos which would actually delay her flight an additional day past mine. Luckily, her husband was a phone call away and would arrive in an hour to help his distressed bride.
On the cab ride to the hotel I was in the car with a young lady from Ghana who was going to meet her family, a man there on business who spoke of his recent encounter with Ghana (being robbed by a gang of Nigerians), and a Ph.D. candidate from San Francisco who is going to do HIV and AIDS education cirriculum research in Ghana. As we checked into the hotel I was telling my new friend about the internship that UT has with West African AIDS Foundation and my friend Lindsay who recently spent time working with them. As I explained what little I knew about the culture of HIV in Ghana the gentleman behind the counter asked with a cute smile, "Tell me about Ghana." The tone in his voice and the expression on his dark space gave me the impression he was familiar with the country. I told him I was headed to Ghana. He told me that is his home. When I told him about what I was doing there and were I was working he was delighted. He gave me his email and number and told me he wanted to talk to me about the work in the Ashanti Region. What an interesting adventure.
So here I sit at the Firkin Tavern in the Dulles airport, enjoying a Blue Moon, savouring a burger, and awaiting round two of this flight to Accra. This journey is shaping up to be full of unexpected twists and turns, but in amazing ways. I have faith it will all work out. There is a purpose. I am here for a reason. Let the connections and relationships continue!
Til I cross the pond~
Tim
20 minutes went by and the flight crew scurried around the airplane. The pilot finally came on and said that we would begin emptying fuel and head back to DC to handle the "situation". When we arrive back in Dulles, armed officers come aboard and take the men away. They question some of the other passengers and then take the men's baggages off the plane. Oh, did I mention this is now 2am and almost 3hours after we took off. We were preparing for an additional departure so passengers were going to the facilities and stretching their legs. As I dozed off in my cozy corner of the aircraft, another message from the cockpit informed us that our flight would deboarded and reschedule for 6pm the following evening. Crazy-NESS!
As I was at the back of the plane I took my time getting my belongings together for the journey across Dulles airport at 3am. Walking down the breezeway near me was a single mom with a 3 year old trying to juggle her child on her back, two suitcases and a stroller. I helped her carry her belongings to the baggage area. She was on her way to Lagos which would actually delay her flight an additional day past mine. Luckily, her husband was a phone call away and would arrive in an hour to help his distressed bride.
On the cab ride to the hotel I was in the car with a young lady from Ghana who was going to meet her family, a man there on business who spoke of his recent encounter with Ghana (being robbed by a gang of Nigerians), and a Ph.D. candidate from San Francisco who is going to do HIV and AIDS education cirriculum research in Ghana. As we checked into the hotel I was telling my new friend about the internship that UT has with West African AIDS Foundation and my friend Lindsay who recently spent time working with them. As I explained what little I knew about the culture of HIV in Ghana the gentleman behind the counter asked with a cute smile, "Tell me about Ghana." The tone in his voice and the expression on his dark space gave me the impression he was familiar with the country. I told him I was headed to Ghana. He told me that is his home. When I told him about what I was doing there and were I was working he was delighted. He gave me his email and number and told me he wanted to talk to me about the work in the Ashanti Region. What an interesting adventure.
So here I sit at the Firkin Tavern in the Dulles airport, enjoying a Blue Moon, savouring a burger, and awaiting round two of this flight to Accra. This journey is shaping up to be full of unexpected twists and turns, but in amazing ways. I have faith it will all work out. There is a purpose. I am here for a reason. Let the connections and relationships continue!
Til I cross the pond~
Tim
Comments
Post a Comment