Scott's African Adventure: Day 6

Day 6

Well, it looks like Jonathan has to fly to Nyrobi(sp) tomorrow, so I am going to be teaching his class on Friday and Saturday. So, this means I get no day off. This is kind of a bummer, but I said yes before I really thought it through.

I made a small discovery this morning. I realized that I need to make this adventure more interesting. So I am going to do more fun things when I get done with the day. I have always been one who is ok with closing the hotel door and relaxing the evening away. But I think it will do me good to go down and sit in the pub, have a couple beers and relax.

I am still getting up way too early. This means I am pretty pooped by the end of the day. Tonight will be a chance for me to test this theory and see if I sleep a bit later. I need to get into some kind of comfort zone. I don't really feel scared or anxious, just out of control. No cell phone to call for help, no little hugs and kisses at the end of the day......no comfort food. Thats the big one I think. I am use to going a few days with out the XXXX's and OOOOO's, but I have always had the ability to get a snack when I want.

The altitude has more of an effect than I thought. I can really feel it sometimes. It's good for me I suppose.

TV is a huge plus. discovery channel is awesome. The shows are the same but with an African twist. All of the shows are re-runs, but with African hosts and still good.

Ok, so in keeping with the idea that I would relax and enjoy this a bit more, I treated myself to breakfast. It was a buffet style, and it wasn't too bad. 210 birr which equals close to $20 bucks, but I won't do that every day. It was nice.

I forgot to mention that while I am teaching, we re continuously being brought coffee and pastries. The coffee is super strong. A little packet of sugar here is about 3 times the size as in the US.,...these people like lots of sugar in there coffee. I usually drink my coffee black, but I can't do that with this tasty sludge!

These guys that I am teaching are really cool. They are a mixture of Muslims and Christians. They get a kick out of trying to explain there customs to me. Still can't figure it all out but they are not bothered by my questions. It's easy to ask them things I don't know. For example...we easily shake hands, but since Ethiopians use there right hand for eating, they grab the wrist and do sort of a light chest bump as a greeting. I don't think I qualify for the chest bump yet, but thats ok. It's also ok if they don't do there prayer at 1600 every day...that can do it early or later. I asked them this because of there flying during the times of prayer.

Today was the best day yet. I wrote the above this morning while I was waiting for our driver. By product of getting up soo early. Today I was teaching Cockpit Procedures to the new FO's. They are so eager for knowledge it is easy to teach them. They are going to have a hard time. These are guys that have flown nothing more than a Cessna 172, with just a little bit of light twin time thrown in. By comparison, I had 5000 hours and 10 years of flying when I got my first airline job. These guys have around 250 hours and are about to fly one of the most automated advanced turbo-props flying today.

I am not sure how to take what has been happening these last few days. I met the CEO today. He sat me down and asked me some questions about the Q400 that I wasn't really ready to answer. The fact that the CEO of the largest African airline wanted my advise was a bit weird. I did my best, but probably wasn't much help.

I got my pizza for lunch. It was ok, but mostly it was so much better than fish......again.

I turned the corner today, and feel pretty good about all this. a lot has to do with comfort level. am always soo darn careful to stay within that delicate bubble. It is hard when I feel so out of place.

I commented to a student today about the security. There is so much....Everywhere! Yet I see nothing that makes me feel “insecure”. He explained that it is because of the tension with Somalia. Yeah....no shit! There is a constant civil war with those folks. But these people go on every day. They are happy and hard working. There is new construction everywhere you look. Some of the strangest things happening on a construction site. I will try and take some pictures of the scaffolding tomorrow. I am having issues with my little computer and the picture upload so be patient.