In flight

12:41am, PST

Currently I'm writing this just south of Iceland, 1 hour and 55 minutes out from Amsterdam. 3020 miles gone so far, 39053 feet.

World Business Class on this airliner is an interesting experience. Smoked Salmon for dinner, and a airline seat that folds into a nearly flat bed. I ended up getting nearly two hours sleep. They have a fold out screen for movies, music, games, etc. A blanket, pillow, and a kit with comb, toothbrush and paste, shaving supplies, socks, etc.

Surprised they don't offer internet access. (chuckle). I can get really used to traveling this way.

The flight out from Detroit took us north over Montreal and Quebec City. Both are gorgeous from the air. Further north over Nova Scotia. Before I fell asleep, I got to see a moonlight glimpse of Greenland's ice cap.

The flight will take us over the north of Ireland, and over the UK around Manchester. Have no idea what I'll see - there's mostly clouds below us right now. Be interesting to see one of the countries my ancestors came from - even if from the air.

The only serious unpleasantness has been the woman next to me. A Nigerian-born doctor, who's in practice in Louisiana now. And, it turns out, a evangelical of the Jack T. Chick order. She wanted to spend the first 10 minutes of the flight talking about faith - which meant 10 minutes of prying questions about my beliefs and 45 minutes of her trying to witness to me, with a "I'm right everyone else is wrong" certainy that set my teeth on edge.

*Sigh* I have nothing against Christianity, but she made me very uncomfortable with her witnessing. Especially since I kept telling her I didn't want to discuss it.

As the plane was pulling out from the gate in Detroit, I was taken by the worse case of self-doubt I've had. A long period of "what am I doing, who the hell am I fooling, why am I going so far from my friends and my daughter???"

The answer - because I'm building a better life for myself and my daughter, and because Weil Cornell Medical College thought I was good enough on paper to spend a *lot* of money to bring me over here.

Even if I don't pass the probationary period, (which is pretty much geared towards making sure one handles culture shock), that's still a solid boost for my career.

I am doing the right thing. I am doing the right thing. I am doing the right thing.

Repeat as needed.

I'm already home sick, I admit this. My first week in Doha is going to be one of the biggest shocks in my life.

1:22 am PST

Used the kit to shave, wash my face, brush my teeth, and comb my hair. Now feeling a bit more human.

According to the in-flight display, we're approaching the Irish Coast. 672 miles from Amsterdam, 1 hour and seven minutes. May shut down laptop to enjoy the view.

Looks like a nearly two hour stopover in Amsterdam. Good, a chance to get outside of the plane will be nice. It will be 10 in the morning locally when I get there. Might have a chance to see at least some of the rest of the airport.

In flight

12:41am, PST

Currently I'm writing this just south of Iceland, 1 hour and 55 minutes out from Amsterdam. 3020 miles gone so far, 39053 feet.

World Business Class on this airliner is an interesting experience. Smoked Salmon for dinner, and a airline seat that folds into a nearly flat bed. I ended up getting nearly two hours sleep. They have a fold out screen for movies, music, games, etc. A blanket, pillow, and a kit with comb, toothbrush and paste, shaving supplies, socks, etc.

Surprised they don't offer internet access. (chuckle). I can get really used to traveling this way.

The flight out from Detroit took us north over Montreal and Quebec City. Both are gorgeous from the air. Further north over Nova Scotia. Before I fell asleep, I got to see a moonlight glimpse of Greenland's ice cap.

The flight will take us over the north of Ireland, and over the UK around Manchester. Have no idea what I'll see - there's mostly clouds below us right now. Be interesting to see one of the countries my ancestors came from - even if from the air.

The only serious unpleasantness has been the woman next to me. A Nigerian-born doctor, who's in practice in Louisiana now. And, it turns out, a evangelical of the Jack T. Chick order. She wanted to spend the first 10 minutes of the flight talking about faith - which meant 10 minutes of prying questions about my beliefs and 45 minutes of her trying to witness to me, with a "I'm right everyone else is wrong" certainy that set my teeth on edge.

*Sigh* I have nothing against Christianity, but she made me very uncomfortable with her witnessing. Especially since I kept telling her I didn't want to discuss it.

As the plane was pulling out from the gate in Detroit, I was taken by the worse case of self-doubt I've had. A long period of "what am I doing, who the hell am I fooling, why am I going so far from my friends and my daughter???"

The answer - because I'm building a better life for myself and my daughter, and because Weil Cornell Medical College thought I was good enough on paper to spend a *lot* of money to bring me over here.

Even if I don't pass the probationary period, (which is pretty much geared towards making sure one handles culture shock), that's still a solid boost for my career.

I am doing the right thing. I am doing the right thing. I am doing the right thing.

Repeat as needed.

I'm already home sick, I admit this. My first week in Doha is going to be one of the biggest shocks in my life.

1:22 am PST

Used the kit to shave, wash my face, brush my teeth, and comb my hair. Now feeling a bit more human.

According to the in-flight display, we're approaching the Irish Coast. 672 miles from Amsterdam, 1 hour and seven minutes. May shut down laptop to enjoy the view.

Looks like a nearly two hour stopover in Amsterdam. Good, a chance to get outside of the plane will be nice. It will be 10 in the morning locally when I get there. Might have a chance to see at least some of the rest of the airport.

Stage two, done

In Amsterdam. Flight went well.

Flight for Doha leaves in an hour. Stage three and four

More sleep needed

Stage two, done

In Amsterdam. Flight went well.

Flight for Doha leaves in an hour. Stage three and four

More sleep needed

On the ground - Saudi Arabia

Step three of the trip is done, with the plane currently in Damman, Saudi Arabia, after a course that took us flying over parts of Eastern Europe, past Buda-Pest, over Turkey, and down though the eastern half of Iraq.

We've got about an hour on the ground here, and those of us going though to Doha have to stay on the plane. Not a problem. It does mean I will have to post this when I reach Doha though - no WiFi or other connection in the aircraft

KLM business class isn't bad, the plane, (a 767) feels a bit worn down, but the service is top notch. However, it was my first experience with seeing in-flight duty-free shopping, (your seat has a catalog. After the meal, they push a cart filled with the items from the catalog down the aisle. You show them what you wanted from the catalog, they ring you up and give you your purchase right there.) Also, KLM has an interesting gift for their business-class passengers. Little ceramic replicas of houses in the Netherlands. While on normal KLM flights, these houses would be filled with a liquor made in Amsterdam. However, SA customs won't allow them to give those away on this flight, (all liquour had to be removed from the cabin and locked away along with non-KLM magazines that passengers didn't claim), so the houses we got were empty.

It's 8pm local time here, and 95F / 35C outside. Blegh.

The Amsterdam Airport (Schiphol) was interesting. I was startled by the fact that they're still letting passengers get greeted at the gate. Too used to that not being the case in the US anymore. And the inside middle looks like a shopping mall exploded. Not to mention that there's a casino as well. (Couldn't find post cards, sorry nolly)

You know, I had joked before that the airport should offer hash bars and brothels. I'm wondering now if I just missed them on the directory..... (yes, I'm joking)

Got some more sleep on this flight, about two and a half hours worth. Caught a look at myself in the bathroom mirror, yeah, I look pretty haggard, red eyes and all. Maybe just as well that WCMC-Q is only having me come in during the mornings during my first week - I will need a few days to catch up on my sleep. Not to mention that my internal clock is trying to tell me it's 11am and I've only gotten maybe 6 hours of sleep here and there since I woke up Saturday morning.

And I really really really want a shower. You know, that's something International hub airports should offer, like truck stops do. You pay a small fee, and get a shower room to yourself to shower and change into fresher clothes. Should be getting into Doha a little before 10pm.

The plan according to WCMC-Q is that I will be met by a representative of Al-Maha Services when I land in Doha. This is a company that specialises in assisting people with visa formalities etc. Their representative will meet me as you come off the bus from the plane and will take me to their lounge. Hopefully they'll have WiFI there while they collect my luggage, and sort out the immigration requirements. Once all that is completed the Al-Maha representative will take you through to the arrivals hall, where the WCMC-Q driver will be waiting for you, carrying a message board with your name on it. Please note that the airport luggage porter service is paid for by WCMC-Q and the basic payment will already have been made, however should you wish to provide any gratuities to the porters that would of course be at your own discretion.

On the ground - Saudi Arabia

Step three of the trip is done, with the plane currently in Damman, Saudi Arabia, after a course that took us flying over parts of Eastern Europe, past Buda-Pest, over Turkey, and down though the eastern half of Iraq.

We've got about an hour on the ground here, and those of us going though to Doha have to stay on the plane. Not a problem. It does mean I will have to post this when I reach Doha though - no WiFi or other connection in the aircraft

KLM business class isn't bad, the plane, (a 767) feels a bit worn down, but the service is top notch. However, it was my first experience with seeing in-flight duty-free shopping, (your seat has a catalog. After the meal, they push a cart filled with the items from the catalog down the aisle. You show them what you wanted from the catalog, they ring you up and give you your purchase right there.) Also, KLM has an interesting gift for their business-class passengers. Little ceramic replicas of houses in the Netherlands. While on normal KLM flights, these houses would be filled with a liquor made in Amsterdam. However, SA customs won't allow them to give those away on this flight, (all liquour had to be removed from the cabin and locked away along with non-KLM magazines that passengers didn't claim), so the houses we got were empty.

It's 8pm local time here, and 95F / 35C outside. Blegh.

The Amsterdam Airport (Schiphol) was interesting. I was startled by the fact that they're still letting passengers get greeted at the gate. Too used to that not being the case in the US anymore. And the inside middle looks like a shopping mall exploded. Not to mention that there's a casino as well. (Couldn't find post cards, sorry nolly)

You know, I had joked before that the airport should offer hash bars and brothels. I'm wondering now if I just missed them on the directory..... (yes, I'm joking)

Got some more sleep on this flight, about two and a half hours worth. Caught a look at myself in the bathroom mirror, yeah, I look pretty haggard, red eyes and all. Maybe just as well that WCMC-Q is only having me come in during the mornings during my first week - I will need a few days to catch up on my sleep. Not to mention that my internal clock is trying to tell me it's 11am and I've only gotten maybe 6 hours of sleep here and there since I woke up Saturday morning.

And I really really really want a shower. You know, that's something International hub airports should offer, like truck stops do. You pay a small fee, and get a shower room to yourself to shower and change into fresher clothes. Should be getting into Doha a little before 10pm.

The plan according to WCMC-Q is that I will be met by a representative of Al-Maha Services when I land in Doha. This is a company that specialises in assisting people with visa formalities etc. Their representative will meet me as you come off the bus from the plane and will take me to their lounge. Hopefully they'll have WiFI there while they collect my luggage, and sort out the immigration requirements. Once all that is completed the Al-Maha representative will take you through to the arrivals hall, where the WCMC-Q driver will be waiting for you, carrying a message board with your name on it. Please note that the airport luggage porter service is paid for by WCMC-Q and the basic payment will already have been made, however should you wish to provide any gratuities to the porters that would of course be at your own discretion.

On the ground - Doha, Qatar

I'm here.

Flight came in at 9:15pm Cleared Qatari customs, and made it to my temp apartment at 11.

Very tired, will write more as soon as I iron my suit, take a shower, and maybe sleep

On the ground - Doha, Qatar

I'm here.

Flight came in at 9:15pm Cleared Qatari customs, and made it to my temp apartment at 11.

Very tired, will write more as soon as I iron my suit, take a shower, and maybe sleep

Ack.....

Oh, first thing that happened when I stepped off the plane in Doha?

My glasses fogged up.

It's almost midnight here. 90, heat index is at 115, 84% humidity

(Sent this morning, since I forget to send it last night. It's only 93 right now at 7:30am, heat index is at 120, with 75% humidity)

Ack.....

Oh, first thing that happened when I stepped off the plane in Doha?

My glasses fogged up.

It's almost midnight here. 90, heat index is at 115, 84% humidity

(Sent this morning, since I forget to send it last night. It's only 93 right now at 7:30am, heat index is at 120, with 75% humidity)

I am??

I am??

Why not.....

http://www.matazone.co.uk/animpages/chicken-tunafish-gopher.html

Why not.....

http://www.matazone.co.uk/animpages/chicken-tunafish-gopher.html