You would think flying off to London for three months would be exciting; "Oh wow, in London for 3 months? That's awesome." "You're so lucky man, going to London and all."
Well, yeah if I had to go by all the things my younger cousins and siblings said, I would probably be in Disneyland, eating cotton candy and kissing Mickey Mouse.
The thought of going to London was a bit exciting, but then I was leaving behind my husband, the crazy sibling gang which now includes my brother-in-law and Mama, I thought I would start bawling at the airport. All the years of the stubborn " I don't cry in public" paid off. After the hugs and kisses I was off, on my own.
I dragged my heavy bags hoping that I was well within the limit. The guy at the counter eyeing my huge bag suspiciously, the "Are you abandoning your family and moving base to London?" look or it must have been the "You ladies pack way too many things" look. Luckily it was just under the limit and I was relieved. Now I was wondering if my cabin baggage would fit into the overhead locker, "unaided", like they mention in your Baggage allowance details. My laptop bag was stuffed with books and the zipper seemed like it would zap away on its own. Earlier that day my husband had to arrange and rearrange my little cabin suitcase so that everything fit in; yes it was over stuffed. I knew I would need all the "aid"to haul it in the overhead locker.
I tried sleeping throughout the flight, but the evil of "In-flight Entertainment" tempts you. When I decided to watch "The Kite Runner" I noticed that my headphones were missing, but of course that was bound to happen.
When I tried to stuff my laptop bag under the seat in front of me and heard a rip, I thought that that would be the end. Then when the guy in front of me inconsiderately pushed back his seat while I was still in the middle of breakfast, I thought God would probably stop punishing me now. So, not having headphones and it being delivered after a long wait, was no surprise.
BA airs an ad with an emotional factor, showing a white woman joining her hands in the namaste posture, I wouldn't go by that. The fat white air hostess very curtly cut me off when I couldn't find space for my cabin baggage and requested if she could help me. Another thin white woman finally obliged and did help me find space, and they are quite spot on when they say that passengers should place their baggage in the overhead locker unaided. Yeah, yeah call me racist.
I finally landed in London, with a ripped laptop bag, sore thumbs trying to open my mobile phone to put in a UK Sim and just very very tired. Thankfully the company had sent a kind man to fetch me who helped me with my luggage and made small talk on the way.
After collecting my apartment keys, I finally arrived at my apartment building, which was not very fancy but seemed nice. The driver, whose name I missed asking, very kindly asked me to check if the main door opened. Once it did, he left.
I was waiting to get into the apartment and take a hot shower and sleep. I pressed the button for the lift and none came down. I assumed I was pressing the wrong button which didn't look like a button but rather a sticker; one of those sleek and extremely advanced buttons which didn't get the bloody lift down. I lugged my huge bag of 22kgs, my over stuffed cabin baggage and ready-to-zap-zipper laptop bag up four floors where my apartment was.
I thought I had had enough of an adventure for one day and then my key didn't work.
The person at the apartment help desk , over the phone, took me over the process of meticulously opening a door; yeah, like we don't have those in India, ooh a door with a lock!
They finally sent someone over who tried the same things I did and concluded, "You've been given the wrong key." Yes, thank you very much, I think I figured that out an hour ago. He then went to get the right key, I was so sure he would come back with another wrong one.
After what seemed like an hour he was back and thankfully with the right key. When I spoke to my husband later, there I was bawling like a baby wanting to go back home.
Does this happen to everyone or is it just me? I guess I have to wait and see what's next in store for me in unpredictable London.
- Kavisha Pinto
