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First (virtual) postcard.
0. They made me choose a picture from the library. So here is the Statue of Liberty...
1. Once again I was reminded what pleasure it is being short on long-distance flights.
2. When ordering koshers meals, make sure you are awake when served. Otherwise your neighbour seat Frenchmen might eat it (and there was chocolate cake!).
3. When sneezing in America, don't be alarmed when strangers vocalize: "Bless you". They are not afraid of speaking to strangers here. Without thinking I returned the blessing to a sneezer in the airport restroom. I am becoming one of them already.
4. After 16 hours of virtually not communicating with anyone (a blessing and a few words exchanged with the hungry Frenchmen) I needed to speak. Conversation with check-in lady in Seattle: Airport
Her: Where you headin'?
Me: Pullman
Her: Oh enjoy your time with us
Me: Thanks I will.. I hear it's in the middle of nowhere..
Her: Yeah it is! But at least you'll be in a pretty nowhere.
6. ...and it is!
7. So.. there I was sitting waiting for my hour delayed flight from Seattle to Pullman. After being on the "road" for almost a full day at this point I wasn't much of a talker.. and hadn't expected anyone else to be either - being forced to wait for a delayed flight at 11pm. I put my good listening skills to use and eavesdropped a little and amazingly within about 30 minutes my 10 nearest sitting neighbours had exchanged pretty intimate life-stories. Most were about their ailments and illnesses and which familymembers had recently passed in various tragic ways. I wonder, could there really have been that many Jews going on the same plane as me..?
8. I stayed silent. I guess I am not really one of them - yet. Although.. considered joining in when they started displaying scars to oneanother.
9. We all finally got onboard (even the woman who'd had her lymphnodes removed in her left leg and had to wear a brace and the one who slid her hand open in a freak accident in her kitchen involving a very new and potent designer knife.. and the two 10-year old twins travelling with grandma' after having visited their their auntie in Alaska, like they do every sumer for 2 weeks.). Anywho.. sat next to a stranger whom I hadn't noticed before. He turned out not so strange. He gave me an in-flight out-the-window guided tour of the region. This made me realize how much in the middle of nowhere I really am.
10. This I HAVE to share! Due to a delay the crew we were supposed to have couldn't make it and instead of having 30 (quite talkative!) people spend the night in Seattle airportchairs they called in a crew from their homes to fly with us. I'm happy they did. The steward was on hillarious!
Here are some highlights from his "standard" departure information:
"Start by saying hi to the person next to you. If we have a really bad day at work - they're gonna be you new best friend."
"There are more ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this plane... and there are discolights marking all the ways to the exits."
"This is a non-smoking flight - so if smoking today, you better be on fire!"
11. My host, Nicky, who's also the exotics vet I'll be living with for the next 6 weeks was waiting for me in arrival hall (the same room as departure hall and luggage hall). I've settled into my ginormous bed (picture will definatley follow!) and couldn't see the point in staying at home relaxing all weekend waiting for Monday and my first day of rotaitons to come around when Nicky was going into hospital anyway to treat lizards, snakes, eagles, owls etc. So I've spent my first day cleaning cages, observing operations, weighing mice for eagle/owl food and befriending a brain-damaged albino gerbil (ørkenrotte) - who'd get along great with my 3 gay boys at home. Just an ordinary day at work :o) .
12. I hope you are all well. I am! And I can't wait to hear back from you if you've got time.
13. Over n' out.
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