Day 230 - Meeting Jane Goodall - Flight to Dubai
Thursday, February 21, 2019.
Today we took our time getting up because we had plenty of time before our 11:00am ride to the airport. But around 9:00, while we were having breakfast, Gregory got a text saying that we could meet Jane Goodall at the Coffee Lodge at 10. I don't believe in coincidences. It was meant to be that we met Jane Goodall at the hotel right next door an hour before we had to go to the airport. We got ready quickly and walked to the hotel. We got there by 10:00 where the ceremony had started, and Dr. Goodall arrived half an hour later.
The Rotarian who set this up for us called Gregory and us over to meet her before she gave her speech to children from local schools. I was so excited to meet her. Just a few days earlier we watched a documentary on her life called Jane. She seemed like a very happy and peaceful person. She talked very quietly during her speech because she had bronchitis, but her main message was to make everyone see how we are all connected and how we are all involved with one another, with animals and the environment, so, every single one of us had the responsibility and to help our world however we could!
Her speech was brief, which was perfect for us because our ride to the airport was going to pick us up at 11:00am. When she finished we walked quickly to our apartment.
We loaded our suitcases in the trunk. I ran to the law office next door to say goodbye to the staff. I had met them the day before when I gave a small talk about Effective Communications and how to improve their English. Everyone in the office was so friendly!
Our ride to the airport was very pleasant because Hellen, our host, came with us and we got a chance to talk all the way to the airport. Gregory told her his exciting idea to be a tour guide and bring people on safari. Maybe his next business, gulp! Actually, I don’t think I would mind teaching in Africa at the international school. People here are so friendly that we really enjoyed our stay. Even Daniel said before we left, that he wanted to give everyone a big goodbye hug.
In Tanzania, we were able to use the airport lounge and have samosas for lunch. They had pretty good internet there and time flew while we waited for our flight. We flew from Tanzania to Nairobi, Kenya. It was a short flight of less than an hour. The plane was small and the flight attendants' uniforms were very colorful. I wish I had taken a picture so I could later contrast it with the flight attendants on Emirates.
When we arrived at the Nairobi airport, they told us to rush because we were the last ones to board the plane. They even told us that if our suitcases didn’t make it on the same plane, they would send them later! I was upset because I didn't pack anything I might need in case of that situation. My mom always advised me to pack underwear and a toothbrush in my handbag when flying. I really have to start doing that! Besides, we were surprised because we had a good hour before the flight left, so boarding shouldn't even have started.
We had to go through security twice more, even though we were already in the boarding area and each time, they would stop me and ask what I had underneath my homemade bandage. I had to show them my burn so they would understand what happened. One of the guards smiled when I said I had burned my leg while I was riding a piki-piki.
We finally made it to the gate and we were welcomed by white flight attendants wearing fancy uniforms including Arabian style hats that had veils. The plane was huge! We passed through business class and then sat down in economy class, which was still very nice and spacious. Daniel couldn't stop smiling! He was thrilled, or I should say, we were all thrilled about the huge selections of movies and the large screens. It was hard to choose a movie. I watched Loving Pablo with Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz. They served a delicious dinner and we even had time to watch two movies. The flight from Kenya to Dubai was five hours and we arrived in Dubai at 11:00pm.
The Dubai Airport was big and fancy. We passed through customs easily. Gregory chatted with the officer who was very friendly. I had to make an effort not to take a photo, because photography is forbidden at immigration, but how often do you see an immigration officer in full Arab dress?
After he stamped our passport, we went directly to get money from an ATM and we were on our way, we stopped to try our luck at the money exchange counter with our leftover Egyptian pounds. We had tried in Ethiopia and Tanzania where they wouldn't take them. Sure enough, they took them here!
Today we took our time getting up because we had plenty of time before our 11:00am ride to the airport. But around 9:00, while we were having breakfast, Gregory got a text saying that we could meet Jane Goodall at the Coffee Lodge at 10. I don't believe in coincidences. It was meant to be that we met Jane Goodall at the hotel right next door an hour before we had to go to the airport. We got ready quickly and walked to the hotel. We got there by 10:00 where the ceremony had started, and Dr. Goodall arrived half an hour later.
The Rotarian who set this up for us called Gregory and us over to meet her before she gave her speech to children from local schools. I was so excited to meet her. Just a few days earlier we watched a documentary on her life called Jane. She seemed like a very happy and peaceful person. She talked very quietly during her speech because she had bronchitis, but her main message was to make everyone see how we are all connected and how we are all involved with one another, with animals and the environment, so, every single one of us had the responsibility and to help our world however we could!
Her speech was brief, which was perfect for us because our ride to the airport was going to pick us up at 11:00am. When she finished we walked quickly to our apartment.
We loaded our suitcases in the trunk. I ran to the law office next door to say goodbye to the staff. I had met them the day before when I gave a small talk about Effective Communications and how to improve their English. Everyone in the office was so friendly!
Our ride to the airport was very pleasant because Hellen, our host, came with us and we got a chance to talk all the way to the airport. Gregory told her his exciting idea to be a tour guide and bring people on safari. Maybe his next business, gulp! Actually, I don’t think I would mind teaching in Africa at the international school. People here are so friendly that we really enjoyed our stay. Even Daniel said before we left, that he wanted to give everyone a big goodbye hug.
In Tanzania, we were able to use the airport lounge and have samosas for lunch. They had pretty good internet there and time flew while we waited for our flight. We flew from Tanzania to Nairobi, Kenya. It was a short flight of less than an hour. The plane was small and the flight attendants' uniforms were very colorful. I wish I had taken a picture so I could later contrast it with the flight attendants on Emirates.
When we arrived at the Nairobi airport, they told us to rush because we were the last ones to board the plane. They even told us that if our suitcases didn’t make it on the same plane, they would send them later! I was upset because I didn't pack anything I might need in case of that situation. My mom always advised me to pack underwear and a toothbrush in my handbag when flying. I really have to start doing that! Besides, we were surprised because we had a good hour before the flight left, so boarding shouldn't even have started.
We had to go through security twice more, even though we were already in the boarding area and each time, they would stop me and ask what I had underneath my homemade bandage. I had to show them my burn so they would understand what happened. One of the guards smiled when I said I had burned my leg while I was riding a piki-piki.
We finally made it to the gate and we were welcomed by white flight attendants wearing fancy uniforms including Arabian style hats that had veils. The plane was huge! We passed through business class and then sat down in economy class, which was still very nice and spacious. Daniel couldn't stop smiling! He was thrilled, or I should say, we were all thrilled about the huge selections of movies and the large screens. It was hard to choose a movie. I watched Loving Pablo with Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz. They served a delicious dinner and we even had time to watch two movies. The flight from Kenya to Dubai was five hours and we arrived in Dubai at 11:00pm.
The Dubai Airport was big and fancy. We passed through customs easily. Gregory chatted with the officer who was very friendly. I had to make an effort not to take a photo, because photography is forbidden at immigration, but how often do you see an immigration officer in full Arab dress?
After he stamped our passport, we went directly to get money from an ATM and we were on our way, we stopped to try our luck at the money exchange counter with our leftover Egyptian pounds. We had tried in Ethiopia and Tanzania where they wouldn't take them. Sure enough, they took them here!
I don’t know why I wasn’t nervous at all. It was midnight and we had no clue how we were going to get to our Airbnb. Gregory got us an Uber, who was not a very friendly driver, and he didn’t really know where our place was, but eventually, he found it. We called our host to let him know we were outside and we found out that he was in the U.K.
A woman came out to get us. She showed us the way and then around the apartment. When she finished, she told us that her boss was sick so he was already asleep... in the room next to ours! What??? We looked at each other with confused faces. Gregory and I were sure we had rented the whole apartment, but when we went on the Airbnb app to check, it said: “Luxury apartment - private bedroom”. They didn't lie to us, we just didn’t pay attention. I was more upset than Gregory and immediately started to look for another place. I didn’t find much especially in Dubai with our budget. We were so tired that we decided to look into it tomorrow morning. We went to bed at 1:00am.
A woman came out to get us. She showed us the way and then around the apartment. When she finished, she told us that her boss was sick so he was already asleep... in the room next to ours! What??? We looked at each other with confused faces. Gregory and I were sure we had rented the whole apartment, but when we went on the Airbnb app to check, it said: “Luxury apartment - private bedroom”. They didn't lie to us, we just didn’t pay attention. I was more upset than Gregory and immediately started to look for another place. I didn’t find much especially in Dubai with our budget. We were so tired that we decided to look into it tomorrow morning. We went to bed at 1:00am.
For pictures please click here
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NxijL1yzFF17gUVj9
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