Writing this blog, I feel as if I were speaking of a different lifetime. We arrived in Mozambique tuesday the 15th, but the internet we've had has only been strong enough to get a few instagrams through. It is now the February 5th, but I can't begin blogging without explaining what travel day(s) are like. So, flashback to friday, January 4th:
After 4 days of waiting around in the Holiday Inn (DC), the squad was anxious for our approaching travel day. Little did we know that by "travel day," the squad leaders actually meant travel dayssss. We left the inn around 6 am for the airport. Our flight was booked with Emirates Airlines. We were slightly disappointed because Emirates is one of the few flights which we don't get frequent flyer miles for. However, looking back, I think we'd all be willing to trade any future acquired miles to be on an Emirates flight one more time.
Emirates set the bar for future travel days at an unrealistic height. Stepping foot onto the plane, I knew we were in for a treat. The ladies greeting us at the entrance (as well as every lady working on the plane) were beautiful. Their red and beige uniforms were very feminine, but still business like. They wore red lipstick, and their hair was tightly pulled back in a neat bun. They each had a small cap, which connected a shear white drapery across their face down to their collar. Each woman was of a different ethnicity, and spoke with a different accent. The voiceover was recited in multiple languages.
When the plane had taken off (10 AM), and settled at the proper height, the women then walked down the aisles handing out hot towels smelling of lavender for us to clean our hands before the first of 4 meals offered to us throughout the flight (and before every meal following; Hot towel meant next meal). There were tv's behind each seat with a selection of movies, full season tv shows (including New Girl, my favorite), and games with control. There was also a telephone on the back of each seat so that we could make calls to any seat on the plane (which was awesome because our group occupied about 1/3 of the plane and we had many unnecessary calls to make).
We all got full menus providing a variety of choices for each of the 3 courses and snack, (each course with a small dessert, and free wine and a selection of juices). The lights on the plane mimicked the time of day outside, changing from day to night to day again. Meanwhile all this, our 13 hour plane ride began. No one wanted to complain about our situation, however, 13 hours is a LONG flight. Little did we know our travel had only just begun.
We arrived in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) at 8 AM. The airport was similar to any other airport, but smelling of cigarettes, maintaining minimal AC, and selling every brand of perfume/cologne, makeup, and watch. Our layover was 2 hours; long enough to fight for an internet signal strong enough to "check-in" to the Dubai International Airport, score a Starbucks coffee for 14 ran(?), and jump on our next 8 hour Emirates flight to South Africa.
As I looked around the plane at my world race teammates, who were somehow able to pass out, I became restless. Cornered against the window, totally jet lagged, hot and frustrated, I wanted to punch a hole in the window and jump off the plane. We finally arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, around 6:00 PM and onto our bus at 7:40 pm. Again, marking only the beginning of our travels.
After 30+ hours of not sleeping, I was able to sleep on our bus. Leaving around 8 PM, and arriving at 3:53 AM, we then fought for our visa's at the border for five hours. We left at 9:00 AM and arrived at Angie Wheelers house (a missionary who offered her home to us), around 11:00 AM.
We slept the majority of our time there (the first time we got to lay horizontally in 41 hours), then left at 6 AM in our most uncomfortable form of transportation yet.
While the next bus ride was only 19 hours, we had to squeeze our group of 50 onto 2 buses, which only sat 20 comfortably, (including the bus drivers). Filling the aisles with people and luggage, there was to get anything out of your pack, or move at all really. Furthermore, if Mozambique has any rules regarding driving, (the side of the road you drive on, how many people to a seat, seat belts, stoplights, etc.) they were not apparent at all. Seated in the very front next to the driver, I spent the first 2 hours of the ride in fear for our lives, but after successfully dodging oncoming traffic and 2-3 feet deep potholes, I realized the driver knew the ways of the mozambique road.
Leaving at 6 AM, we finally arrived at the Iris Ministry site in Dondo, Mozambique around 12:00 AM. This time frame was probably the most miserable, and humid 19 hours of my life. But, we made it, and we were so grateful to finally arrive. Our total travel time (starting at our first planes take off) was 79.26 hours. In summary, The words, "travel day" have an entirely new meaning to my squad and I.
Fast foreword 4 weeks from then, I do have some stories to tell you about Mozambique, and our ministry. We arrived at our debriefing site in South Africa yesterday and yes, we have Wifi! I'll be posting a couple more blogs from last month periodically through the the next few days.
Love you,
~Laur
