Viewing International Travel thru a COVID Lens

 

I am glad to be able to travel at all, but I do have a new wariness regarding the whole travel process during a pandemic.  Airlines seem to be doing their best to put safety measures into practice, and passengers are trying to comply, yet there is a general air of confusion and chaos to flying these days. 

The first COVID guideline to go by the wayside is WATCH YOUR DISTANCE.  Instead of lining up single file, we are now asked to crowd around a small group of check-in kiosks to get our boarding passes and baggage tickets.  With 14 pieces of luggage, three being oversized, it was near impossible to negotiate the crowd, and social distancing just wasn't happening. The ticket lady helping me asked me to kindly step aside while she entered information and interacted with the display.  It was then impossible to hear what she was saying above the din, so she called me back and pointed out that I needed a visa to enter Ethiopia.  But I'm not going to Ethiopia!

The flight to Chicago was packed to the gills.  I was in the middle seat, trying not to breathe.  The attendants attempt to deplane people by rows had failed miserable, as passengers were eager to get out of this toxic, in-your-face environment.  

Then the real chaos started.  Ethiopian Airlines requires all passengers to visit the desk at the gate for new boarding passes and covid test checks.  But nobody new this and tried to board normally with their original boarding passes.  Furthermore, each country seems to require covid tests within different times of departure, and the attendants at the gate were looking it all up.  You try telling a passenger with limited English that he can't board his plane home because his negative covid test was taken outside the 90 hour window! Things were not going well.  The flight attendant was trying to get people to stand on taped markers for social distancing, only to then send then all over to the smallest desk space you can imagine for re-ticketing. I squeezed in and produced both receipts for post-travel testing to be done upon arrival, and for the 10 extra bags, before we could attempt boarding.

The flight attendants onboard were struggling equally.  For some reason the seat rows had been numbered incorrectly, and we found someone else in our seats.  Someone else was in their seat, and so on.  You can imagine that having 6 rows of passengers all get up with their belongings and change seats was not easy, especially when you are supposed to be socially distancing. 

To my dismay, when finally seated, I found my seat splattered with what could have been food, or something worse.  The window also was smeared with unidentifiable yuck.  I asked the attendant for something to clean it with and found that yet another COVID guideline was being ignored: WASH YOUR HANDS AND SANITIZE AFTER USE.  There was no sanitizer on board, and I was asked to use a blanket to clean my seat.  Fortunately I had brought my own sanitizer and kleenexes, and was able to clean most of it.  The Kleenexes came in handy for a trip to the lavatory later where I found there was no TP either.

I suppose I was lucky that I was allowed on board with a bottle of hand sanitizer, some airlines would confiscate it at security.  This time they confiscated Jon's roll of Duct Tape, with no explanation.

At Addis Ababa airport we watched as a large number of cleaners moved around wiping down seats.  But when we entered the cafe, the tables were crowded together with no elbow room, NO MASKS, and we all had to share the same sugar pot and spoon. 

Some passengers are taking care of themselves and following their own guidelines (or their company's guidelines).  We saw many passengers in full hazmat suits, visors and masks which they never removed for the duration of their travel. 

Touchdown in Abuja was just another opportunity for chaos.  Employees tried to sort everyone out, line them up and check documents. Diplomats in one line, foreigners in another.  But few people took notice, and kept switching to the shortest line. Those without proper Covid papers were sent off to correct this, and then there were more lines for visas and customs. The porters fought over a chance to carry our 14 bags, and we were directed towards the 'declare' room where officials swarmed round and went through all our things.  Outside the traffic made it difficult to navigate our bags to the pickup van.  Once there, we were greeted with a "How was your flight?" and a temperature check. 

After a restful sleep in our apartment, we wake up to more chaos: the kind where you can't find the scissors to open the new adaptor to plug in the electric kettle to make some tea.  Where did our maid stash the toilet paper, 'cause there is none in the bathrooms? How does the gas cooker work? However, this is my chaos, one I understand.  It is of my making.

COVID has created a chaos all of its own, and everyone is trying to make their own peace with it as we travel through this pandemic.  

Armchair Travel: Playful and Edgy!

 

The ability to go new places without leaving my comfy chair has not only become easier with new technology, it has become convenient for this time of pandemic.  It is not uncommon for me to do research on a place before I travel there.  However, for this coming move to Nigeria, I was able to do so much better than download a "to bring" list before beginning to pack.  It all started back in early summer with emails from my new coworkers. Some tidbits: " I have long been itching to meet with you." and "Until August, and hoping that COVID-19 relaxes its muscles soon, take good care of yourself. Stay strong and safe!"  And a later communication, "I hope this email finds you enjoying a good cup of tea or coffee," as a follow up to several Zoomed staff meetings and WhatsApp conversations. 

The staff have become a close knit group.  We commiserate with each other's visa trials, and celebrate final travel plans.  There is a continual sharing of information via our phone app: packing tips, grocery lists, travel requirements, etc. I have little need to look something up, because we are all in this together, and sharing is the name of the game.  And this is as close as it gets because, when we finally arrive we will be in quarantine, social distancing and busy working.

Due to COVID, our initial tour of the campus was made virtual by way of a video created by the school.  We received both a bird's eye view of the housing, and an inside look of the school.  Later our principal offered to give us a personal tour of our apartment via Google Meet.  If we had any questions left as to what to bring, this answered them.  We talked voltage, outlets, storage, appliances, and measurements.  This really contrasted with other moves where we have begged for this sort of information knowing that there is so much needed to make a household function.

Another contrast was the ability to connect with and hire some household help prior to arrival.  I offered employment and received a polite acceptance, "OK Ma, thank you!" via text message. This lady will be doing my grocery shopping for me during quarantine.  I was asked to make a list for her to shop for.  Knowing that every country has its own unique products (lessons learned from trying to shop for Thanksgiving dinner in either Sofia or Kuwait!), I decided to visit a local supermarket online and check availability of everyday items like wine.  I found the website difficult to navigate, and searching for items like bread was impossible.  I also got distracted by the descriptions of the items, which often omitted the size/weight, and included glaring mistakes such calling white wine red.  I thought I would close this blog with one such description which ensured me that my move to Africa will certainly be colorful, if not playful and edgy!

DECLAN WHITE WINE Declan white wine is incredibly juicy, very fruity, full bodied rich taste. Declan white wine is easy drinking, ripe berry and jam. Declan wine is soft and smooth. Greatly enjoyed when chilled. This new wine has a perfect balance of sweetness. Declan white wine pairs well with lively foods and friends. Declan white wine combines its sophisticated taste perfectly with the playful fruity taste. If your all about the perfect combination of playful and edgy. Declan white wine is ideal for all celebration, dining and events.