DECEMBER, FIRST, 2005
Traveling for the first time to a western country, I had a problem the day I went to the Alia airport in Jordan. I missed the flight. Yes, I know it’s shocking. It was the first time for me to read the ticket which was full of signs and numbers. Maybe I was very excited to the extent I couldn’t concentrate. Anyway, I returned back to the house shocked and disappointed. The first thing I did was I went to an internet café to tell J the bad news as she was supposed to meet me in D.C. at the airport. Out of shock, I went home afterwards and slept for five hours. When I woke up at 6 p.m., I went to the internet café again to contact J. she and I chatted on the messenger and she told me not to worry at all. “You still can make the Harvard fellowship,” she said. I was afraid to lose it. It was my dream and it was the dream of any young journalist like me who wants to build his future and career.
J contacted the travel section in the newspaper and they booked for me another flight. This time it should be through London and then to Boston directly.
After that I went to the Royal Jordanian office, confirmed the reservation, paid the money and received the tickets.
I spent most of the next day, Wednesday, in the internet café while my friends were at their college. My aunt’s family called me to check if I have already left. I visited them and had dinner with them. They were very excited, may be more than me!!
Now, I am at the Alia airport. I still have about an hour for my flight. I had my American coffee and I am well prepared now for the departure.
Finally, I left Jordan on board of the royal Jordanian.
I am in London now!!! Yes, London. Here is what happened before I arrived Heathrow airport. I can’t believe it.
When I was on board of the RJ, I was amazed by the sight. First, we passed the Mediterranean. The sea sight was amazing and unbelievable.
On the way, I wasn’t able to sleep. I was imagining and thinking… it’s my first trip to the world. Being on board did not make me forget about Baghdad, my family and friends. I pulled Shadid’s book to read. Before that, I looked at the photos I brought with me; a photo of my parents with a beautiful smile on the face of each one of them, a photo of me and O with another beautiful smile, a photo of J, O and, and a photo of J alone with her vivid smile that never left her face. Then I read two chapters of Shadid’s book as the trip was long.
When we reached London, my heart was beating fast. “Oh my God!! Oh my Lord!! I am in London!!” I said. Looking at through the window, I imagined London as a blonde woman wearing warm clothes and waving to me saying, “Welcome B. Welcome in London.” The sight was amazing. The streets looked like those we used to see in cartoons when we were kids. It was beautiful. Very beautiful. The weather is incredible.. it’s cold and warm at the same time. I just don’t know how to explain it. I think because I am very excited, I feel warm. I didn’t know where to go first. I just followed. I followed the sign “Arrival” until I reached the employee that was supposed to check passports and visas. Wearing his dark blue suit and wearing his skeptical, he smiled and told me to go to terminal three, flight connections. With a big smile he gave me the passport and said, “Shukran, Maalsalama” [means thanks and goodbye]. I was really relieved to hear that. It was a good omen for me to see a British speaks Arabic. I was afraid that the London attacks would change the behavior of the British people towards Arabs and Muslims in general.
Followed the directions and signs, I went to the flight connection section.
I am sitting now among people of different countries. The airport is like a fun city.. it’s full of life and the people here are all smiling. Some eat chocolates, others read newspapers and books and some wandering at the duty free shops for shopping. Children gather around their parents asking them for money to buy some candy. This is life… this is how people should live in allover the world.
Being in London reminds me with my father’s trip to England. He studied in Leeds and spent some time in London. he’d never been here after he returned back to Iraq as the war Iran started.
Anyway, I am in London now waiting for my flight to the USA…
I left London and flew to Boston on board of American Airlines. It was a long trip, almost 7 hours where I slept and woke up several times.
This time, I imagined America like the Statue of Liberty carrying the flame to lighten the road for me. I was so happy. I was about to jump from the airplane out of happiness. “I am in America… yes in America”
I finally arrived Boston at 8:15 p.m. Boston time. Being an Arab, I was interrogated for three hours. “Are you a Sunni or a Shiite?” an officer asked me. “I am secular and don’t care about sects or religions,” I replied. I was well-prepared for such kind of investigation as I know how the Americans fear the Arabs in airports, specially after the September, 11 events. I wasn't bothered at all because i was so happy and excited to see how the world looks like after decades of deprivation created by Saddam against his people.
J and her friend K, where we are going to stay with were waiting for me. “I told you. You are in America now.” said J.
