For those who have traveled to Africa (or farther) before, this post will have no new revelations or shocking pronouncements. You have felt what I am about to share before and we have all found our ways to cope. But for those of you who have not yet traveled on a long plane ride, let me just do a quick break down of your supplies and activities.
You brought:
1 book
2 magazines
1 iPod/iPad loaded with songs and a few videos/games
Some quantity of work - paper, article, research, presentation, etc.
You have access to:
A TV screen with inflight movies/games/shows
Sky Mall
Airline magazine (in this case, Ethiopian air)
Food/drinks (at predetermined times)
A pillow and blanket
So, after boarding, let's say you flip through Sky Mall (oooo a seven foot Yeti garden statue), peruse the airline magazine (where DOES Leo DiCaprio like to eat when he goes to Madrid?), watch a movie (well, start a serious one and then quickly give up to watch Toy Story 3 because you have to think less), eat (chicken or fish, and keep in mind, we are out of chicken), watch one episode of The Office (the one where Pam and Jim pull a prank on Dwight and Michael says something uncomfortable), conquered a few more levels of pig and monkey killing (screw trying to get three stars), and, what the hell, take a one-hour cat nap (complete with lumbar massage courtesy of the kicking, sneezing child behind you).
That still leaves you with EIGHT AND A HALF HOURS until you touch down.
I think I have made my point.
